BY ALYSE MESSMER
Associated Press

President Joe Biden is weighing sanctions against Ethiopia as the nation is embroiled in a war with the Tigray as the leader of neighboring Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to visit the White House.
Kenyatta, who is currently serving as the president of the United Nations Security Council, will meet with Biden on Thursday. Ahead of their discussions, the president told reporters that he hopes to find a “political solution” with Biden about Ethiopia as Kenya does not “believe that there is any military solution” to the 11-month-old war.
The meeting between the two is the first in-person gathering Biden has held with the president of an African nation since taking office in January.
Biden signed an executive order weeks ago which threatened to levy sanctions against Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad if attempts to end the war were not taken soon. Since the executive order, Ethiopia has launched a major military offensive against Tigray in an attempt to end the war.
The United States and Kenya have a history of strong partnerships, as both worked together to combat Islamic terrorism.
Despite Ethiopia’s devastating starvation crisis, the government is rejecting international “meddling,” but the United Nations continues to voice its concern for the hundreds of thousands who are living in starvation as the conflict continues.
According to Reuters, over 350,000 metric tons of food aid is currently in Ethiopia but nearly all of it has been barred from reaching the Tigray region.