May 24 , 2021


Demeke Mekonen, deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Affairs.

Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposes the decision by the US government to impose visa restrictions on government officials, calling it inappropriate. While asserting that it sends the wrong signal at a time when the country is in a rush to hold general elections, the Ministry accuses the US of trying to meddle in its internal affairs.


Earlier today, the US Department of State announced its decision to impose restrictions on visa and economic as well as security assistance to Ethiopia over the ongoing fighting in Tigray, where over 5.2 million people are in need of urgent assistance. The curtailing of visas is applicable to officials of the federal government, Amhara region as well as the TPLF; a move the Ministry termed a misguided decision.


"What is more saddening is the tendency by the US Administration to treat the Ethiopian government on equal footing with the TPLF," the Ministry said in its statement.



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