- Reacting to the US decision to impose visa restrictions on its citizens and to restrict economic and security assistance, Ethiopia has stated that it may review its relationship with the US if America continues to interfere in its internal affairs.
- Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US government of “continuing to exert undue pressure’ on Ethiopia and stated that the implications of the visa restrictions and other related measures taken earlier will seriously undermine the longstanding and important bilateral relationship.
Reacting to the US decision to impose visa restrictions on its citizens and to restrict economic and security assistance, Ethiopia has stated that it may review its relationship with the US if America continues to interfere in its internal affairs.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the US government of “continuing to exert undue pressure’ on Ethiopia and stated that the implications of the visa restrictions and other related measures taken earlier will seriously undermine the longstanding and important bilateral relationship. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia the misguided US decision sends a wrong signal at a time when Ethiopia is gearing up to hold national elections. Despite the pressure from the US, the Ethiopian government once again ruled out negotiations with the TPLF.
On 23rd May the US State Department announced that it had imposed visa restrictions on Ethiopian and Eritrean officials who are responsible for fuelling or obstructing proposed resolutions to end the crisis in the Tigray region. The US State Department said the decision was part of the efforts to end the conflict in Tigray. The restrictions reportedly will impact members of the security forces of the Amhara region, informal forces and other individuals, and members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
