SW News: The Biden administration has notified Congress that Ethiopia is no longer committing gross human rights violations, thus, lifting a legal designation that will allow the US and other nations to once again send economic aid to the East African nation.
After Ethiopia emerged last year from a terrible civil war, Washington is looking to improve its ties with Ethiopia, one of East Africa's largest economies.
The Biden administration's promise to put human rights at the forefront of its foreign policy agenda may be undermined by the decision, which appears to contradict claims of ongoing human rights violations and ethnic cleansing activities in Ethiopia's northern Tigray area.
The latest move by the Biden administration to lift the designation demonstrates how eager it is to improve ties with Ethiopia, which it considers a key partner in African security and development projects and an anchor for US participation on the continent.
In addition to serving as the African Union's home country, Ethiopia is a major troop provider to UN peacekeeping missions. More recently, as Sudan descended into conflict, US President Joe Biden hailed the Ethiopian government for its assistance in supporting the quick departure of American diplomats and people from Sudan.
This Thursday, the Treasury Department informed Congress that it had found that Ethiopia is no longer engaging in a pattern of gross violations based on a recent assessment of the State Department.
The announcement follows a significant international aid controversy in Ethiopia. Following the discovery of widespread and coordinated theft of crucial supplies for millions of people still suffering from the effects of the conflict and in danger of going hungry, the US Agency for International Development this month declared that it will stop providing any food assistance to Ethiopia.
According to the Washington Post, members of Ethiopia's federal and regional governments were involved in the extensive looting plan. The Ethiopian government pledged to help with the investigation of the aid program, which was welcomed by the State Department.
In addition to unblocking important International Monetary Fund programs, Washington can now directly aid Addis Ababa to support Ethiopia's weak economy by potentially filling funding shortages and restructuring the country's soaring government debt.