NCA joins up with Ethiopia to nail international prison gangs fuelling small boats
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will focus on tackling factors – including conflict and lack of jobs – that push people to make the dangerous journey to Europe and the UK
(Image: PA)
The UK is ramping up action in Africa to stop small boat arrivals from the continent.
On her first visit to Africa as Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper will focus on tackling factors – including conflict and lack of jobs – that push people to make the dangerous journey. Around 30% of small boat arrivals over the past two years were nationals from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan, the Foreign Office said.
Ms Cooper will use her visit to Ethiopia to emphasise that achieving regional stability and sustainable growth in the region is crucial to reducing migratory pressures from Africa into Europe.
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She will discuss greater cooperation with the African Union along with African foreign ministers on conflict prevention and resolution across the region to prevent people being forced to leave their homes by war and persecution.
The Cabinet minister will also put job creation at the heart of her trip in an attempt to reduce the push factors driving people to migrate.
Ms Cooper said: “We are working together to tackle the economic drivers of illegal migration and the criminal gangs who operate globally, profiting from trading in people.
“That includes new partnerships to improve trade and create thousands of good jobs in Ethiopia so people can find a better life back home instead of making perilous journeys
“And it means new law enforcement cooperation between the Ethiopian authorities and the UK National Crime Agency to disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks who exploit vulnerable people and put their lives at risk.”
As part of her visit, she will meet telecoms firm Safaricom, backed by a British consortium including Vodafone and British International Investment (BII). The Foreign Office said they are one of the UK-supported companies who are increasing opportunities for Ethiopians to find work at home, instead of seeking a new life overseas.
Ms Cooper will also set out the work that the UK is doing to strengthen cooperation with the Ethiopian authorities to tackle the brokers and criminal gangs organising illegal migration into Europe and the UK.
And she will outline steps to speed up the return of Ethiopian nationals with no right to stay in the UK.
Her trip to Ethiopia will also see an announcement of £5million of humanitarian funding to tackle violence against women and girls, particularly in conflict-affected areas, and £4m for life saving assistance to 68,000 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.
Some £8m will also go towards clean water access for displaced people, food production and four medical centres and five hospitals.
