Extension of national emergency targets those obstructing humanitarian aid and undermining peace efforts in conflict-affected regions.
KEYIR NEWS - The United States has extended its national emergency declaration concerning the situation in northern Ethiopia, citing ongoing threats to peace and stability in the country and across the wider Horn of Africa.
The measure, first proclaimed in 2022, authorises targeted sanctions against individuals and entities accused of obstructing humanitarian assistance, undermining peace efforts, or being complicit in serious human rights abuses.
The White House confirmed this week that the declaration will remain in force for another year, arguing that conditions in Ethiopia continue to pose “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. foreign policy and regional security.
While the Pretoria Agreement in signed in November 2022 brought an end to the two-year conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Washington maintains that full implementation remains incomplete.
It has repeatedly expressed concern over reports of ongoing rights violations, humanitarian access restrictions, and instability in Ethiopia’s Amhara and Oromia regions.
The renewal of the emergency allows the U.S. government to continue enforcing sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, on those deemed responsible for prolonging conflict or blocking humanitarian relief.
The White House stressed that the policy is intended to encourage accountability and support Ethiopia’s transition towards peace and reconciliation.
Ethiopia has previously criticised such measures as external interference, insisting that its domestic processes, including transitional justice mechanism, should be allowed to proceed without pressure. However, U.S. officials argue that the persistence of violence and rights violations requires sustained international attention.
Analysts note that the extension reflects Washington’s cautious stance, balancing support for Ethiopia’s reform agenda with pressure to uphold human rights obligations. The move signals that, despite diplomatic engagement, Ethiopia’s crisis remains a priority issue in U.S. foreign policy towards the Horn of Africa.