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Washington Update
By Mesfin Mekonen
Mesfin Mekonen was recently interviewed by the Zewdu Show and Addis Demise (https://youtu.be/6QSu_MZ7AVI?si=dfVlCqv6eaTZQhVt). The interview covered current events in Ethiopia, and the history of the National Press Club.
Mesfin Mekonen wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in late February to urge him to take steps to avert civil war in Ethiopia. The letter sought the Secretary of State’s assistance in pressing Ethiopia to stop using drones to kill civilians in Ethiopia, described reports of atrocities committed by the Ethiopian government, and note that it is important to the region and to the U.S. for Ethiopia to be stable, secure and prosperous.
The letter stated: “The United States and the global community need to support fundamental human rights for the Amhara, the rule of law, and democracy. The failure of the administration to condemn crimes being committed on a daily basis by the autocratic regime of Abiy Ahmed encourages its continuing war on the Amhara people, creating needless suffering and the risk of violence that could destabilize the Horn of Africa.”
It called on the U.S. to play a significant role in promoting a settlement of the ever-escalating war against the Amhara by the government of Ethiopia, condemn the abuses the Abiy government is undertaking, and promote the drafting of a new constitution.
On March 27. The State Department reported: “Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today. The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed the desire to strengthen the bilateral relationship around mutual priorities, including stability in the Horn of Africa. The Secretary reaffirmed U.S. support for a peaceful and prosperous Ethiopia.”
Amnesty International has called for Ethiopia’s federal government to immediately pause the Corridor Development Project (CDP), an urban development project across at least 58 cities, until a human rights impact assessment is conducted, those forcibly evicted are provided with effective remedy, and safeguards are implemented to ensure any evictions comply with international human rights
standards. Amnesty International’s statement is available at Ethiopia: Federal government must pause the corridor development project and end forced evictions.
The Ethiopian government has retained an influential lobbying firm, Patton Boggs, and is using it to try to influence Trump administration policy outside of normal diplomatic channels.
To counter the activities of mercenary lobbyists, Ethiopian Americans need to contact their members of Congress and tell them the truth about the situation Ethiopia. They need to tell them that the Abiy regime is killing civilians with drones, that eliminating humanitarian assistance from USAID is creating immense hardship and paving the way for Islamic terrorists to destabilize the Horn of Africa. Tell members of Congress that the Abiy government is censoring the media, jailing journalists, committing human rights abuses. The Abiy regime can spend millions of dollars on lobbyists, but they cannot hide the truth – if Ethiopian Americans speak up.
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