US imposes visa curbs on Ethiopians tied to Tigray tensions
Why it matters: Washington warned clashes this year could revive a war that killed hundreds of thousands in northern Ethiopia.
The United States imposed visa restrictions on some Ethiopians it says are undermining peace in Ethiopia, targeting hardliners in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and their immediate family members. The State Department said rising tensions between TPLF hardliners and the Ethiopian government, along with clashes earlier this year between TPLF and federal forces, risk reigniting conflict in northern Ethiopia. In May, Tigray’s main political party reasserted control over the region’s political administration, restoring the legislative council that existed before the 2020-2022 civil war. The council then elected TPLF chair Debretsion Gebremichael as regional president. The Tigray war drew in Eritrean forces and killed hundreds of thousands, researchers have found.