UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper is in Ethiopia to tackle rising migration numbers from the Horn of Africa to the UK.
Her visit aims to address economic drivers of illegal migration and counter smuggler gangs through job creation partnerships and law enforcement cooperation.
Cooper plans to sign agreements on energy-transmission projects and announce £17 million in funding for women’s rights, malnutrition aid, and displaced people support.
Cooper’s efforts focus on creating thousands of good jobs in Ethiopia, reducing the need for perilous journeys.
The UK government aims to strengthen law enforcement cooperation to speed up returns of migrants with no right to stay in Britain.
Around 30% of people crossing the English Channel on small boats over the past two years were nationals from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan.
The visit highlights the UK’s efforts to curb illegal immigration, a pressing issue amid populist campaigner Nigel Farage’s influence.
