Luise Amtsberg, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance at the Federal Foreign Office, is travelling to Ethiopia and South Sudan to hold talks and visit local projects. She issued the following statement today (11 April) prior to her departure:

"Although the weapons have fallen silent in northern Ethiopia, the people there are still suffering. Efforts to address the human rights violations that have taken place are only just beginning. I am therefore travelling to Ethiopia, following the joint visit by Foreign Minister Baerbock and her French counterpart Catherine Colonna in mid‑January, so that I can learn more about the progress of the peace process and the National Dialogue to address human rights violations, as well as the challenging situation facing women and girls in the country. The German Government is interested in a serious expansion of its relations with Ethiopia and remains a reliable partner, including in the sphere of humanitarian assistance. In light of the devastating drought in the Horn of Africa, Germany’s humanitarian assistance efforts remain crucial.

Following this visit, I will travel on to the world’s youngest state, South Sudan, to focus attention on one of the forgotten crises of our age. The country is still ravaged by conflict and violence. I will hold talks and visit projects on the ground to gain an overview of the difficult human rights situation as well as the significant humanitarian need in the country. According to United Nations figures, three quarters of the population of South Sudan are dependent on humanitarian assistance, and the impact of the climate crisis is exacerbating displacement and food insecurity. My visit is intended to help South Sudan’s people and its civil society make their voices heard – something which, sadly, often does not happen in light of the many other crises around the world."