Today, Lord Collins of Highbury, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa, arrived in Mekelle as part of his official visit to Ethiopia. Accompanying him was the UK Ambassador to Ethiopia, Darren Welch. They were welcomed at Mekelle’s Alula Abanega Airport by President Getachew Reda and other regional dignitaries.

In Tigray, Lord Collins and Ambassador Welch’s itinerary includes visits to several locations such as the 70 Care IDPs Camp, Kasech Nutrition Centers, a local textile factory, and a combatant camp. The purpose of these visits is to evaluate current humanitarian initiatives, bolster recovery efforts, and investigate potential avenues for enhanced UK-Ethiopia collaboration in the area.

The discussions with President Getachew are anticipated to encompass a range of topics, primarily the Pretoria Agreement, which includes aspects of development cooperation, peace, and regional stability.