The United States has announced visa restrictions for Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials and members of security forces over atrocities tied to a months-long conflict in northern Ethiopia.
The Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced on Sunday that the U.S. has imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia after parties to the conflict in Tigray have “taken no meaningful steps to end hostilities.”
He however said that the U.S. will continue with humanitarian assistance and other critical aid to Ethiopia including health, food, education, human rights, democracy, and other areas. He said the Biden administration will continue with its broad restrictions on aid to Eritrea.
Prior to taking these steps, the Biden administration had repeatedly called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean and Amhara forces from the Tigray region and asked for the African Union to help resolve the crisis, to no avail.
Thousands of people have died since November in the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern most region. At least 2 million people are reported to have been displaced.
Sunday’s announcement is the latest step from the international community to hold those responsible for the Tigray atrocities to account.
The European Union delayed budget support payments to Ethiopia following reports of the crisis.