Ethiopia has accused the United States (US) of interfering in its internal affairs following the imposition of several sanctions—including aid cuts and travel bans on some officials—over alleged human rights abuses committed by government security forces during the ongoing conflict in the country’s northern Tigray region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Sunday that Washington was issuing a “visa restriction” on Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials, security forces members, and other individuals responsible for the crisis in Tigray. Blinken added that sanctions would target those who have “committed wrongful violence” against the people in the conflict-affected region as well as “those who have hindered access of humanitarian assistance” to the people of Tigray.
Blinken further stated that the US has “imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia [and] will continue its existing broad restrictions on assistance to Eritrea.” However, he also said that these restrictions would not halt the US’ humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia and that Washington would continue to provide critical aid in areas like health, food, and education.
In response to the US sanctions, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday urging the US not to “meddle in its internal affairs.” The text said that the US’ decision to impose visa restrictions on its officials “was not only inappropriate but also completely unacceptable.” It mentioned that the move came at a time when Addis Ababa has been “engaging positively and constructively” with Washington, and warned that if it continues to undermine relations, “Ethiopia will be forced to reassess ties” with the US.
Ethiopia has been in the throes of a grave humanitarian and political crisis since November last year, when Ethiopian Prime Minister (PM) Abiy Ahmed ordered a military response to an attack on a federal army camp in Tigray by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), which has since been declared as a “terrorist” organisation. The fighting quickly boiled over into a full-scale armed invasion by Ethiopian troops, who have partnered with Eritrean soldiers in their operation.
Government forces have also been accused of committing widespread atrocities against civilians, including massacres and using rape as a weapon of war. According to conservative estimates, thousands have died and over one million people have been displaced as a result of the months-long conflict. Last month, The Guardian reported that almost 2000 people killed in more than 150 massacres committed by soldiers in Tigray have been identified by researchers.
The US has condemned the ongoing violence and has urged the Ethiopian government to end hostilities, ensure unhindered humanitarian access to Tigray, and allow an independent international investigation into human rights abuses committed by armed forces. Yesterday, US President Joe Biden said that he was “deeply concerned by the escalating violence and the hardening of regional and ethnic divisions in multiple parts of Ethiopia.” Biden also called upon the Ethiopian government and other stakeholders to “commit to an inclusive dialogue” to end the conflict.
However, the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said that the US’ tendency “to treat the Ethiopian government on an equal footing with the TPLF [was] saddening.” The ministry further stated that the US decision to impose restrictions on its officials “sends a wrong signal at a time when Ethiopia is gearing up to hold national elections [that] would pave the way for an inclusive dialogue once a new government assumed office.”
Ethiopia’s election body has decided to hold parliamentary elections on June 21 after already delaying the process twice this year, following several logistical problems caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. About 36 million Ethiopians have registered to vote in the upcoming elections, although no registrations have taken place in conflict-affected regions like Oromia and Amhara, and government officials have said that no voting would be held in the Tigray region.
Ethiopia Accuses US of Meddling in Internal Affairs Following Sanctions
The US has imposed several sanctions, including travel bans on some Ethiopian and Eritrean officials over humans rights abuses committed in Ethiopia's Tigray region.
May 27, 2021
Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed SOURCE: ANADOLU AGENCY