US imposes economic, security sanctions on Ethiopia
1 min read
The United States has announced visa bans for Ethiopian and Eritrean officials accused of inciting six months of fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigrean region.
The United States has accused these officials of not taking concrete steps to end the violence.
“People in the Tigreans are facing human rights abuses. Humanitarian assistance is being blocked by the Ethiopian and Eritrean military as well as other armed actors,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.
Blinken also announced a broader economic and security embargo on Ethiopia, adding that the United States would continue to provide humanitarian assistance such as health, food and education.
Conflict in Tigray erupted in early November 2020, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to the region to arrest and disarm TPLF leaders, Debretsion Gebremichael.
Eritrean troops allied with the Ethiopian military have been accused of numerous massacres and other atrocities during the Tigray war. Although Asmara denied it.
