U.S. Lifts Human Rights Violation Designation on Ethiopia, Raising Concerns

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2023 - The Biden administration has decided to remove the legal designation of Ethiopia as engaging in a "pattern of gross violations of human rights," clearing the way for the resumption of U.S. and international economic aid to the country. The internal notification from the U.S. Treasury Department and officials familiar with the matter reveal the administration's intention to revamp its relationship with Ethiopia, considering it a vital player in African security and development initiatives. However, the decision has drawn criticism due to ongoing reports of human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing campaigns in the Tigray region, potentially undermining the administration's commitment to prioritizing human rights in its foreign policy agenda.

The move by the Biden administration signals its eagerness to strengthen ties with Ethiopia, which it views as an essential partner in Africa and a cornerstone of U.S. engagement on the continent. Ethiopia's contribution of troops to U.N. peacekeeping operations and its hosting of the African Union further underscore its strategic importance. President Joe Biden recently commended the Ethiopian government for assisting in the evacuation of U.S. diplomats and citizens from Sudan amid escalating conflict.

The Treasury Department notified Congress this week that, based on a recent assessment by the State Department, Ethiopia is no longer considered to be engaging in gross human rights violations. The decision comes following a major international aid scandal in Ethiopia, with the U.S. Agency for International Development suspending all food aid due to widespread theft by members of the federal and regional governments.

Despite these developments, Human Rights Watch released a report in June documenting continued human rights abuses, including ethnic cleansing campaigns, in Ethiopia's Western Tigray Zone. The report revealed allegations of torture, arbitrary detentions, and forced expulsions by Ethiopian authorities in the region. Critics argue that lifting the human rights violation designation contradicts these reports and raises concerns about the Biden administration's commitment to addressing the ongoing crisis.

The removal of the designation enables the U.S. to resume direct economic assistance to Ethiopia and potentially unlock major International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs to aid the country's struggling economy. The move also allows Washington to have more influence in IMF negotiations with Ethiopia by covering gaps in government funding and addressing the country's mounting debt.

Under Section 701 of the 1977 International Financial Institutions Act, U.S. executive directors at international financial institutions are instructed to oppose loans or financial assistance to countries involved in human rights violations. The recent notification to Congress states that the Treasury Department will no longer instruct the relevant U.S. executive directors to oppose any loans or financial assistance to Ethiopia.

Both the Treasury Department and the State Department declined to comment on the matter.

It is worth noting that during the war in Tigray, which lasted from November 2020 to November 2022, the United States halted economic assistance to Ethiopia. The conflict witnessed widespread atrocities committed by all parties involved, including massacres, starvation, ethnic cleansing, and sexual slavery. The lifting of the human rights violation designation, seven months after the war's official end, raises concerns among human rights advocates who highlight the disparate response by the Biden administration to conflicts such as the war in Ukraine compared to the situation in Ethiopia.