February 20, 2025
Peace and Security Among Key Issues Discussed
Toronto – Alison Blackburne, the UK Special Envoy for the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, on Thursday held talks with Misganu Arega, Ethiopia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the capital city of Addis Ababa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the discussions centered on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues, as well as areas of cooperation between Ethiopia and the UK. Key topics included economic cooperation, trade, investment, and development. As is customary, the Ministry did not disclose specific details of the talks, and this meeting was no exception.
However, it was revealed that peace and security in the Horn of Africa region were among the critical issues discussed. Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia have recently de-escalated, but relations with Eritrea are deteriorating rapidly, raising concerns about the potential for conflict.
Some activists and analysts, however, downplay the likelihood of war, citing the “weak military” condition of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government amid ongoing conflicts in the Amhara and Oromia regions. Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of “warmongering” following an article published by former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome on Al Jazeera. In the article, Mulatu alleged that Eritrea is collaborating with a faction of the TPLF to provoke war. The discussions between Alison Blackburne and Misganu Arega on peace and security may have been influenced by these developments.
The UK’s Deputy Prime Minister also visited Ethiopia recently, meeting with senior government officials, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. She shared on her social media, “It’s been an incredible visit, strengthening our partnership and exploring new opportunities for both our countries.”
During her visit, she attended the signing of several investment and cooperation agreements. Notably, UK-based company Asset Green signed a $300 million agro-processing investment deal with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, marking a significant step in economic collaboration between the two nations.
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