Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that more than 500 Christians have been killed in coordinated attacks in Ethiopia since June; and what steps they are taking to assist the government of Ethiopia (1) to identify the perpetrators, and (2) to bring those responsible to justice.

The UK is concerned by reports of violence between ethnic groups in Ethiopia following the murder of Hachalu Hundessa on 29 June, and the widespread violence that followed in Addis Ababa and the Oromia region. The Minister for Africa visited Ethiopia from 27 - 29 July and was able to discuss these events with the President, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the President of Oromia Region. He pushed for full and transparent investigations on the violence and that those detained are afforded due process and their cases heard promptly. The Minister for Africa also expressed the need for more peaceful dialogue between different ethnic groups in Ethiopia and for space to be given for political debate. We shall continue to monitor the situation and to raise the importance of respect for human rights in meetings with the Ethiopian Government and regional leaders.