The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 29th November 2021:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con): We are extremely concerned by the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. The Minister for Africa spoke at a Westminster Hall Debate on 3 November. She stated that there is no military solution and the UK has been clear on this from the start. We have consistently called on all warring parties to end hostilities and seek a political dialogue and peaceful solution.
The Foreign Secretary spoke to Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen on 5 November, where she also made clear there is no military solution and that negotiations are needed to avoid bloodshed and deliver lasting peace. We have made these points repeatedly to the Ethiopian Government and the Tigrayan authorities. We are fully supportive of the African Union (AU)’s mediation efforts, and the Minister for Africa spoke with AU Special Envoy Obasanjo on 4 November, and with AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole on 8 November.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of drones in the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con): We are aware of reporting that drones are being used in the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia. We call for a ceasefire by all sides, including the Ethiopian Government, to end airstrikes. The indiscriminate targeting of civilians, no matter the weapon used, is against international law, and is entirely unacceptable.
A joint investigation by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published on 3 November found reasonable grounds to believe that all parties to the conflict in Tigray have, to varying degrees, committed violations of international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law. The UK will continue to support the UN in the need for independent, transparent and impartial investigations and will work to ensure that those responsible for these atrocities are held to account.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that UN workers providing humanitarian aid are being detained by the Ethiopian authorities.
Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We are concerned by recent reports of the detention of several UN staff in Ethiopia. Expulsions and detention of key UN personnel will have a direct impact on the ability of the international community to deliver vital humanitarian assistance. On 30 September the Minister for Africa called on the Government of Ethiopia to reverse the decision to expel UN officials from the country. Our concerns were reiterated at the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council on 4 October where a joint statement was issued by the UK Ambassador to the UN on behalf of over 40 countries, and we also raised this at the UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing on Ethiopia on 6 October. The British Ambassador to Ethiopia raised our concerns about ongoing detentions with President Sahle-Work on 12 November.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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