- The U.S. government should undertake a three-part strategy focused on cessation of hostilities, sanctions, and constitutional reform, according to a commentary on Atrocities in Ethiopia by Mesfin Mekonen, Chairman of the Coalition of Ethiopian-American Civic Organizations, and Bart S. Fisher, Counsel for the Coalition of Ethiopian-American Civic Organizations.
- Reuters reported on January 31 that at least 372 Ethiopians have died due to hunger in the last six months. The report almost certainly underestimates the scale of the tragedy. This is a manmade catastrophe resulting from the policies and failures of the Abiy government. Ironically, as Ethiopians are dying of starvation, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has celebrated Abiy with an award. Human Rights Watch has accused the FAO of ignoring Ethiopia’s abuses of human rights.
- Bloomberg reports on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s disputes with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and a decision by the African Development Bank to withdraw its personnel from Addis Ababa because it hadn’t received a satisfactory response from the government on why two of its staff had been arrested and assaulted.
- Adding to Ethiopia’s international isolation, the United Nations Security Council is considering taking action in response to Abiy’s decision to sign a 50-year lease for access to a port in Somalia. The agreement was reached with leaders of Somaliland who are in conflict with the government of Somalia and have not been recognized by the United Nations. The League of Arab States and other international organizations have condemned Abiy’s action. Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, needs to have access to the sea, but it must achieve this goal through diplomacy.
- Republicans are calling for an investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar regarding comments she made that endorse violations of Ethiopia’s sovereignty. Omar has endorsed Somalia’s claims to Ethiopian territory. Newsweek reported (Can Ilhan Omar be deported? Republicans call for her removal) on Omar’s comments about Ethiopia and the backlash they have provoked.
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.
