By Mesfin Mekonen
Good morning, Welcome.
My name is Mesfin Mekonen. I have been involved in advocating for Ethiopian people, for human rights, democracy and economic development, for three decades. I am also the manager at the National Press Club, Washington, DC, Author of Washington Update and Founder of MM Management, Ltd. an executive search firm and chairman of Ethiopian Americans civic organizations
It is a great honor to welcome all our distinguished guests and participants to today’s conference. I would like to extend my deep appreciation to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) for generously sponsoring this meeting space here in the Rayburn House Office Building.
Although Congresswoman Norton could not join us today, she offered this message:
Message from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
“Dear Mesfin,
Thank you for inviting me to speak at your Conference on December 19, 2025. I am honored by your request. I would very much like to participate, but unfortunately a prior commitment prevents me from doing so. Please accept my sincere regrets that I cannot join you.
Sincerely,
Eleanor Holmes Norton”
Message from Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ)
My Dear Friends,
It is an honor and a privilege to salute the great people of the great nation of Ethiopia on the all-important occasion of the Ethiopian Constitutional Conference and Forum on Attacks on Religious Freedom in Ethiopia,
As the second-most populous country in the world, Ethiopia is home to more than 132 million people. It also has one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa, one which enjoyed an 8.1 percent growth last year.
With each passing day, improvements are made in living standards, access to water and electricity and an increase in child vaccinations. Ethiopians have much to be proud of, but there is still much work to be done.
But Ethiopia’s future peace and stability depend on abandoning the system of ethnic federalism. The root cause of the country’s ongoing crisis lies in its constitution, which is built on a divide-and-rule ethnic federalist structure. To go beyond this will be a major step foward for a great nation.
In continuing to make great strides for its people, Ethiopians can always count on the United States to give them a helping hand and to know that Americans consider the Ethiopian people among their closest friends in Africa.
Melania and I wish all of you the very best on this day.
Sincerely,
Chris Smith
Why We Are Here?
An important resolution has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives: by Congressman Carter (R-Georgia) And Congressman Wilson (R-South Carolina)“Condemning the Government of Ethiopia for actions that threaten regional stability, violate fundamental human rights, and undermine the strategic interests of the United States in the Horn of Africa.”
It notes credible reports that the government of Ethiopia has committed “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights, including acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”
And it highlights the fact that the violence has been targeted at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and other religious institutions.
House Resolution 937, available at : https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/937/text,
As part of the 50-State Strategy we have developed, our next phase will focus on a coordinated, nationwide letter-writing campaign.
The immediate priority is to contact our Members of Congress in every state. Through this campaign, we must clearly explain why this resolution matters to us and urge our Representatives to support the legislation, co-sponsor it, actively push for its passage in the House, and advance it to the Senate. Once it reaches the Senate, we must continue our advocacy until it is passed and ultimately signed into law by the President of the United States.
This coordinated effort must be our collective strategy to successfully complete this initiative. Our voices matter. It is essential that Members of Congress and U.S. Senators hear directly from their constituents about the realities on the ground in Ethiopia, particularly the worsening human rights crisis affecting Amhara Ethiopians. Congress places great value on hearing from the people they represent, and our engagement is critical to achieving success.
Today’s conference brings urgent attention to the rapidly worsening human rights crisis in Ethiopia. This crisis receives far too little global attention, yet Ethiopia’s stability is essential—not only for its own citizens, but for the security of the entire Horn of Africa and international interests.
If Ethiopia collapses, the consequences will be profound: extremism will spread across East Africa, Red Sea trade routes will be endangered, and global powers such as China and Russia will exploit the vacuum. Preventing Ethiopia’s slide into chaos is both a humanitarian imperative and a vital U.S. national security interest.
The Crisis in Ethiopia
Under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, state violence has intensified, especially against the Amhara population. Government forces have carried out drone strikes on civilians, massacres, widespread rape, and mass displacement.
Opposition figures are imprisoned and tortured. Peaceful demonstrations are violently suppressed. Journalists are targeted and silenced. Rather than uniting the country, the government has deepened the ethnic divisions entrenched since 1991.
Ethiopia’s future depends on:
Genuine constitutional reform to end ethnic apartheid
Protection of fundamental human rights
Eliminating systemic corruption that strips the nation’s resources
Humanitarian Emergency
Corruption has worsened the suffering. In 2023, USAID and the World Food Program uncovered the largest food theft in history—directly involving government officials. The suspension of aid pushed millions toward starvation. Although aid has resumed with new safeguards, the crisis remains immense:
4 million people displaced by government policy
20 million people in need of food aid, with only one-third receiving support
Severe funding shortages putting millions at risk of starvation
Percussion of Ethiopian Orthodox Churches
State-backed seizures and violence
Killings and arrests: More than 35 Orthodox followers were killed, and many others arrested in connection with church disputes.
Suppression of worship: In January 2023, Oromia police blocked access to churches, even in Addis Ababa, preventing worshippers from attending Sunday services.
Mass violence in Oromia: Joint operations by Oromo special forces and the OLA are accused of killing tens of thousands of Amharas and other minorities, and displacing over one million Amharas.
Attacks on places of worship: In East Wollega, OLA forces reportedly killed 29 people inside a church as they observed a holy fast.
These atrocities demand urgent international attention.
What Must Be Done
The United States and the international community must act with clarity and conviction:
Fully restore humanitarian aid with strong safeguards
Impose targeted sanctions on officials responsible for war crimes and ethnic cleansing
Demand broad constitutional reforms that end ethnic-based governance
Secure the release of political prisoners and Journalists including: Christian Tadele (Member of Parliament)Tadios Tantu (author), Dr. Wondwosen, Meskerem Abera (author and educator) And many more
Promote a ceasefire and an immediate end to the violence
Only through these steps can Ethiopia move toward peace, justice, and democratic governance.
Constitutional Conference
Today’s gathering is also part of an ongoing series of Constitutional Conferences committed to completing a new draft Ethiopian Constitution. A central theme is the escalating persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and the rising threats against the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
Ethiopia stands at a pivotal moment. It is time to unite, find common ground, and work toward a future that ensures peace and dignity for the Amhara people and for all communities seeking inclusion and security.
Why We Meet in Congress
We have chosen to meet in the U.S. Congress because it is the center of American democratic decision-making. Ethiopian Americans have successfully engaged Congress before, and this venue provides an influential platform to advocate for justice, human rights, and meaningful change.
Call to Action: Prevent Genocide in Amhara
The Amhara region is facing an escalating crisis characterized by mass killings, forced displacement, and atrocities that exhibit clear warning signs of genocide. Silence is not an option.
We call on the international community to:
Launch independent investigations
Hold perpetrators accountable for crimes against humanity
Take urgent steps to protect civilians
The world must not look away. The people of Amhara—and all Ethiopians—deserve peace, dignity, and freedom.
The Role of the United States
While Ethiopia’s future lies ultimately in the hands of its own people, the United States can and must serve as a partner anchored in democratic values. A strategic approach is urgently needed:
Humanitarian Relief – Restore and expand aid with strict safeguards.
Accountability – Enforce targeted sanctions and demand justice for victims.
Democratic Reform – Support a new constitutional framework that unites rather than divides.
Closing
We gather here at a historic moment. Let us raise our voices for justice, stand with the victims of oppression, and work together to build an Ethiopia that is peaceful, democratic, and inclusive for all.
Thank you.
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