Ethiopia: Washington’s Latest Policies and Updates for September 6, 2024

September 6, 2024
 

1. Constitutional conference. Ethiopian Diaspora uniting for democracy

Members of Ethiopian-American concerned civic organizations will hold a meeting on September 23, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Kennedy Caucus Room, Senate Russell office building, to complete work on proposed draft constitutions. We thank Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) for his assistance in securing the room and for his support. 

The conference is intended to discuss the root cause of the misery in Ethiopia, a constitution based on divide and rule ethnic federalism that fuels ethnic conflicts that threaten to tear Ethiopia apart. The meeting will be a forum for debate of draft constitutions that attempt to address the root causes of Ethiopia’s most serious problems. To secure democracy, human rights and economic prosperity, Ethiopia needs a new constitution that places power in the hands of its people.

All Ethiopians are invited to attend and participate. A registration link will be sent by mid-September.

2. U.S. State Department official traveling to Ethiopia

U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA) Ambassador Mike Hammer will travel to Belgium, Kenya, and Ethiopia from September 3 to 13, 2024, the State Department announced. The State Department said he will “review implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement on northern Ethiopia with signatories. The United States remains committed to supporting the Ethiopian government and the Tigray Interim Regional Administration to achieve lasting peace, including through effective disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration for ex-combatants; an orderly and peaceful return of internally displaced persons; and advancing transitional justice and accountability. Lastly, Special Envoy Hammer will discuss with Ethiopian officials their efforts to advance dialogue to end violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions.”

While the trip demonstrates an ongoing interest of the Biden administration in the Horn of Africa, it is unlikely to achieve its objectives. Hammer has undertaken a series of trips to Ethiopia and he has failed to publicly discuss the Abiy regime’s attacks on Amhara and other groups, its war against the Orthodox church, or its collaboration with groups that are diverting and stealing humanitarian assistance.

As reported previously by Washington Update, lasting peace and prosperity in Ethiopia requires fundamental changes to the constitution.  The United States and the global community must support fundamental human rights for the Amhara people, the rule of law, democracy and good governance. The failure of the Biden administration to condemn crimes being committed on a daily basis by the autocratic regime of Abiy Ahmed encourages its continuing war on the Amhara people, creating needless suffering and the risk of violence that could destabilize the Horn of Africa.

Concerned Ethiopian-Americans recommend that the United States undertake a three-part strategy focused on cessation of hostilities, sanctions, and constitutional reform.  This strategy has been described in a commentary, Atrocities in Ethiopia, by Mesfin Mekonen, Chairman of the Coalition of Ethiopian-American Civic Organizations, and Bart S. Fisher, Counsel for the Council of Ethiopian-American Civic Organizations.

First, the United States should play a significant role in promoting a settlement of this ever-escalating war against the Amhara by the government of Ethiopia. At a minimum, the United States should promote collective efforts of local, regional, and global actors to bring about an immediate cessation of hostilities and attacks by the government of Ethiopia against its own people. Lasting peace in Ethiopia requires an urgent and inclusive dialogue and reconciliation.

Second, the White House and State Department should condemn the abuses that the Abiy government is undertaking and condoning, and take steps to ameliorate the situation. The U.S. ambasador’s speech in Addis Ababa on May 16, 2024, was a good first step in that direction. However, such exhortations to do the right thing will remain as empty words without the imposition of targeted sanctions on the government officials who are responsible for abuses or who fail to protect the lives of innocent civilians.

Third, the U.S. government should promote the drafting of a new constitution, an essential precondition to lasting peace and prosperity.  Article 39 of the 1994 constitution of Ethiopia grants rights for any ethnic group to secede and form a nation. Thus, groups such as the Tigrayans and the Amhara currently have the constitutional right to secede, which of course sparks protracted civil war. The ability of the central government to govern is undermined when every ethnic group has the right to secede. The present constitution has exacerbated ethnic tensions, and, if not revised, will lead to the disintegration of Ethiopia.

3. Interview with Eskinder Nega

Ethiopian political leader Eskinder Nega discussed the deteriorating situation in Ethiopia, as well as the path to peace and democracy, in a recent interview. He discussed Abiy’s ongoing attacks against the Amhara and the regime’s attempts at ethnic cleansing.  The interview is available at The Future with Fano: The New Coalition and Its Way Ahead

4. A looming crisis

International observers warn that Egyptian military support for the Somali government, and especially a build up of forces on the Somali-Ethiopia border, could become a crisis.

Critical Threats, a project of the American Enterprise Institute think tank, recently issued a prescient warning about the situation.

Critical Threats summarized the situation: Egypt is growing military cooperation with Somalia and deployed troops to Somalia, which is increasing tensions with Ethiopia and raising the risk of direct or proxy military clashes between Egypt and Somalia against Ethiopia. The Somali Federal Government is trying to pressure Ethiopia to withdraw its military forces from Somalia and annul its port agreement with the de facto independent breakaway Somaliland region. Egypt wants to counter Ethiopia’s growing influence on the Nile and Red Sea, which are economically vital waterways for Egypt. Ethiopia has strongly warned that the growing Egyptian military presence on its border poses a national security threat. The African Union peacekeeping transition at the end of 2024 is a potential trigger that could transform the rising political tensions into an armed conflict between Egyptian and Somali forces against Ethiopian soldiers or pro-Ethiopian Somali forces. The growing tensions could derail Turkish-led peace talks scheduled for later in September.

Details are available at: (Africa File, September 5, 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, and Somalia Conflict Looms; IS Gains in Niger; Russia Aids Burkina Faso’s Nuclear Energy Push).