British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has paid an official visit to Addis Abeba, holding talks with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and overseeing the signing of new energy and investment cooperation agreements. The visit resulted in a memorandum on technical cooperation in public investment management and joint development agreements for two major power transmission projects aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s electricity network.
The agreements cover the Hurso–Aysha 400 kV and Degehbur–Kebridehar 132 kV transmission lines, with UK support channeled through Gridworks. Cooper said the visit also emphasized job creation partnerships to address irregular migration, alongside expanded UK support for social programs, including those targeting violence against women, malnutrition, and displaced communities.
The trip comes as Ethiopia hosts intensified diplomatic engagement, even as the UK expanded travel warnings over deteriorating security in several regions. British officials continue to balance development cooperation with concerns over regional instability, border tensions, and Ethiopia’s evolving geopolitical posture.
