Washington Update: House Resolution Condemns Ethiopia’s Role in Horn of Africa Instability

An important resolution has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives: “Condemning the Government of Ethiopia for actions that threaten regional stability, violate fundamental human rights, and undermine the strategic interests of the United States in the Horn of Africa.”

House Resolution 937, available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/937/text, notes that the government of Ethiopia is waging “war in the Amhara region, while violence continues to grip Oromia, Afar, Tigray, Ogaden, and other areas, resulting in the loss of life, widespread destruction of property, destabilization of the region, exacerbation of ethnic and religious tensions, and the escalation of conflict-driven famine and mass displacement.”

It notes credible reports that the government of Ethiopia has committed “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”

The resolution highlights the fact that the violence has been targeted at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and other religious institutions.

It calls on the U.S. government to take actions in response, including targeted sanctions, withholding non-humanitarian aid, and coordinating with international partners to pursue justice, accountability and reconciliation.

The resolution is especially important as it has been introduced in advance of a conference on Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians that will be held Friday, December 19 at 9:30 am at House Representatives Rayburn Building Room 2168.

The recent attack in Arsi was driven by religious extremism. Evidence indicates that the perpetrators were radical militants with links to Al-Shabaab, the East African branch of Al-Qaeda based in Somalia. This directly contradicts the statements made by the Arsi Zone Administrator and the Ethiopian Inter-Religious Council, both of which claimed the attack was not religiously motivated.

It was great to see Representative Chris Smith last Wednesday at the National Press Club press conference on “Why Nigeria Matters in U.S. Global Strategy for Peace.”

I had a very good conversation with him and raised the issue of the growing persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. I also reminded him that we sent an invitation for him to speak at our conference on Friday, December 19 at 9:30 a.m., in the Rayburn Building, Room 2168. I also told him that Ethiopians greatly appreciate his leadership in drafting and passing the Ethiopia human rights legislation in the House (H. Res. 128, Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging inclusive governance in Ethiopia), an important accomplishment that is still remembered.

Author profile

Mesfin Mekonen

Mesfin Mekonen is the author of Washington Update, a bulletin about Ethiopia’s struggle for freedom and prosperity, and founder of MM Management.

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