Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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864. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent unrest and violence in Ethiopia, a partner country of Irish Aid, and the Human Rights Watch claims that the unrest has seen more than 400 persons killed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26305/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Ireland and Ethiopia have a strong and enduring relationship. Ethiopia has been a partner country of Ireland’s overseas development programme, Irish Aid, since 1994. Ireland has worked with the Ethiopian Government and other partners to address hunger, food security and poverty across the country. This engagement has always had a strong focus on empowering the most vulnerable and marginalised.

There have been a series of protests across the Amhara and Oromia regions of Ethiopia in recent months, and I am deeply concerned by reports of violence, including the death and injuring of protesters.

Ireland firmly supports the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and association, and freedom of expression. We consider these rights as central to building a solid and resilient democracy. Ireland supports the European Union statement of 10th August, which urged all sides to refrain from the use of force. We also welcome the recent African Union call for dialogue among all stakeholders in Ethiopia, which is the only lasting way to address the social, political and economic grievances motivating the protests. In addition, Ireland supports the call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for an independent, impartial and international human rights assessment of recent events.

I am following the situation in Ethiopia through our Embassy in Addis Ababa. Together with our European Union partners, Ireland will continue to monitor political developments and to engage in dialogue with the Ethiopian authorities on the situation in the country and the wider region.