April 29, 2024
As the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) prepares to convene the 2024 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Dallas, Texas, anticipation mounts for a gathering of distinguished leaders from both the United States and Africa. However, amidst the excitement and expectations for fruitful discussions, a significant concern has arisen regarding the potential participation of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia.
A consortium comprising four Ethiopian diaspora organizations—American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC), Ethiopian American Development Council (EADC), Ethiopian Public Diplomacy Network (EPDN), and Global Ethiopian Scholars Initiative (GESI)—delivered a letter to Ms. Florizelle Liser, President and CEO of the CCA. In this letter, they urgently expressed deep concerns about Prime Minister Ahmed’s invitation to the summit.
The letter articulates a litany of grave allegations against Prime Minister Ahmed’s administration. These allegations include accusations of mass atrocities, severe human rights violations, and even allegations of genocide and ethnic cleansing, which have resulted in widespread suffering across Ethiopia.
Under Prime Minister Ahmed’s leadership, Ethiopia has witnessed a descent into severe humanitarian crises marked by civilian atrocities, extrajudicial killings, mass displacement, and the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid. The diaspora organizations reference extensive documentation from reputable international organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention, and the Committee to Protect Journalists, all of which chronicle the systematic violations of human rights by the Ethiopian government.
Despite international efforts, such as the Pretoria Agreement of November 2, 2022, aimed at resolving the Tigray conflict, Prime Minister Ahmed’s expansion of military operations into Amhara and Oromia has led to further atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, religious persecution, and assaults on civilians. Recent investigations have implicated the Ethiopian National Defense Forces in unlawful activities, further underscoring the severity of the situation.
Moreover, the letter highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Ethiopia, with over 3.45 million internally displaced persons and projections indicating a staggering 10.8 million critically food-insecure individuals by summer. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Ahmed has diverted funds from life-saving social safety net programs to finance extravagant projects, including the construction of a $15 billion palace in Addis Ababa.
The diaspora organizations also remind Ms. Liser of President Biden’s Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Ethiopia, issued on September 7, 2023, which emphasizes the continued threat posed by activities in northern Ethiopia to regional peace, security, and stability.
In conclusion, the letter urges Ms. Liser to reconsider Prime Minister Ahmed’s potential participation in the prestigious summit, emphasizing that his presence risks undermining the summit’s commitment to promoting ethical business practices and human rights.
As the 2024 U.S.-Africa Business Summit approaches, the delivery of this letter serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of ethical leadership, human rights, and accountability in international forums.
The full content of the letter can be found HERE.
#EthiopiaWatch🇪🇹: Thanks to PM Abiy Ahmed’s economic incompetence, Ethiopia’s economic death spiral JUST KEEPS SPINNING.
Today, I measure Ethiopia’s inflation at a staggering 65%/yr. pic.twitter.com/k6m8gdroY9
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) April 30, 2024