Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy said his visit to Ethiopia will focus on addressing irregular migration, as London seeks closer cooperation with countries in the Horn of Africa to curb dangerous routes to Europe. Lammy outlined the agenda ahead of meetings in Addis Ababa, saying migration pressures require coordinated economic and security responses, as reported by Yahoonews.
Lammy said the UK aims to work with Ethiopia to tackle the root causes of migration, including unemployment and limited economic opportunity. He highlighted job creation, trade links and development support as central to discouraging risky journeys, noting that long-term solutions depend on improving livelihoods at home, Reuters noted.
The foreign secretary also emphasised stronger collaboration on law enforcement to disrupt human smuggling networks and improve cooperation on the return of migrants without legal status in the UK. Smuggling gangs profit from instability and desperation, he said, underscoring the need for joint action between British and Ethiopian authorities.
During the visit, Lammy is expected to advance agreements on energy transmission projects backed by UK investment firm Gridworks and announce £17 million in funding for programmes addressing gender-based violence and malnutrition. The initiatives form part of a broader UK strategy linking development assistance with migration management in the region, Reuters reported.
