U.S. Congressman urges Sec. of State to review aid to Ethiopia

ESAT News (March 24, 2017)

A U.S. congressman urges the Secretary State to review current aid program in Ethiopia in light of extrajudicial killings, arrest of journalists and dissents as well as the overall human rights violations perpetrated by the regime.

Congressman Mike Coffman of the 6th district of Colorado wrote a letter to Rex Tillerson, the Secretary of State, saying his Ethiopian-American constituents are convinced that the “serious human rights violations are the result of an organized and concerted effort perpetrated by the Ethiopian government.”

The letter says the U.S. Secretary of State should ensure that “aid provided to Ethiopia by the U.S. is not subsidizing a government apparently committed to the systemic abuse of its own citizens and reduction of the democratic space within its own borders.”

The congressman said in the letter that the U.S. assistance “may not be reaching those in Ethiopia who need it the most, and may be providing support and legitimacy to the regime.”

The U.S. plans to give Ethiopia 514 million dollars in 2017.

Coffman and representative Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign relations Subcommittee on Africa introduced a bipartisan resolution (H. Res. 128) condemning human rights violations in Ethiopia and calling for a review of aid and security assistance to the country.