Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of any British citizens being held as political prisoners in Ethiopia; and what representations they have made to the government of Ethiopia regarding their release.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office records the charges, or category of charge, on which individuals are detained, where that information is provided to consular staff. We are currently aware of a small number of British nationals detained in Ethiopia, but not necessarily as political prisoners. The UK has repeatedly raised human rights concerns with the Ethiopian Government, including around the arrest and imprisonment of people for their political views. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides consular support to detainees as usual.