Ethiopia
Ethiopia just announced a new Prime Minister but its politics still seems to be dictated from the outside.
RELATED STORIES
U.S. House Resolution 128 which is to be put to vote today calls on the Ethiopian government to, among other things, lift the state of emergency, end the use of excessive force by security forces, and investigate the killings and excessive use of force that took place as a result of protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions. The U.S. says it will do the following: 1) have the Department of State review security assistance and improve oversight of U.S. assistance to Ethiopia; (2) have the U.S. Agency for International Development lead efforts to develop a strategy to support improved democracy and governance in Ethiopia; and (3) have the State Department, in cooperation with the Department of the Treasury, apply appropriate sanctions on foreign persons or entities responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights committed against any nationals in Ethiopia.
Although Ethiopia’s ambassador in Washington said the country will “stop counter-terrorism cooperation with the United States if Congress went ahead with a planned vote on a resolution calling for human rights protections and inclusive governance in the country (H. Res. 128)”, U.S. law makers say they will not be bullied. Last year, Ethiopia received at least $664 million in drought and food aid, as well as development projects.
