Africa-Press. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper begins an official visit to Ethiopia on Monday.
Cooper said she would use her visit to focus on measures aimed at curbing the rising number of migrants from the Horn of Africa seeking to reach the United Kingdom.
In a statement, the minister noted that job-creation partnerships could discourage people from leaving Ethiopia, while stronger cooperation in law enforcement is essential to combat smuggling gangs and speed up the return of migrants who have no right to remain in Britain.
She added: “We are working together to address the economic drivers of irregular migration and the criminal networks operating globally and profiting from human trafficking. This includes new partnerships to boost trade and create thousands of decent jobs in Ethiopia, so that people can build better lives at home instead of embarking on dangerous journeys.”
According to data from the UK Foreign Office, around 30% of people who crossed the English Channel in small boats over the past two years were nationals of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan.
To help strengthen job creation in Ethiopia, Yvette Cooper is expected to sign an agreement with Ethiopian authorities to move forward with two energy transmission projects led by Gridworks, a British investment organisation. She is also due to announce £17 million in funding to tackle violence against women and girls, provide assistance to 68,000 malnourished children, and support projects working with displaced populations.
