The United States has paved the way for new sanctions against the warring factions in northern Ethiopia, where thousands have been killed and millions more in need of humanitarian assistance.
A new White House executive order allows Washington to take punitive action against members of the Ethiopian and Eritrean governments, the Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara regional government if they play a role in the ongoing conflict, disrupting humanitarian assistance or committing serious human rights violations.
The move, which puts pressure on the warring parties to come to the negotiating table, comes after Washington repeatedly called for talks to end the conflict and for aid to be delivered to the northern region of Tigray where the conflict began.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has threatened that the absence of a ceasefire and talks to end the conflict in Ethiopia will lead to the United States appointing leaders, organizations and institutions which will be subject to new sanctions.
Reuters reports that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abyi Ahmed has sent a letter to US President Joe Biden accusing the United States of failing to support in the war on TPLF.
The Amhara regional government said it was also concerned about Amhara being included in the US President’s executive order, but promised to support an investigation by the US State Department and the Treasury Department.
Eritrea’s information minister and TPLF spokesman have not yet commented on the matter.
