Five US senators have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed civil war in Ethiopia, warning of escalating violence and regional tensions. ..reports Africa Daily News Desk
Five US senators have urged the Trump administration to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent a renewed civil war in Ethiopia, warning that escalating clashes, rising tensions with Eritrea and growing regional rivalries threaten to destabilise the Horn of Africa.
In a letter dated November 10 and addressed to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators called for coordinated diplomatic engagement, an immediate ceasefire, stronger civilian protection measures and increased humanitarian assistance to address the worsening situation.
The letter was signed by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen. Shaheen is the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The lawmakers warned that renewed hostilities between Ethiopia’s federal government and opposition forces had shattered the fragile peace established under the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended a devastating two-year conflict between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters.
The previous war resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and approximately 120,000 victims of conflict-related sexual violence, the senators said.
They noted that clashes had resumed in Tigray since August, while the Ethiopian government had launched several drone strikes. One attack on September 20 reportedly struck a Catholic Relief Services aid convoy carrying US-funded humanitarian assistance.
The senators also expressed concern over multiple overlapping conflicts within Ethiopia and the possibility of a new confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Fighting between Ethiopian military forces and Fano groups continues in parts of the Amhara region, while an insurgency remains active in parts of Oromia, according to the letter.
They further pointed to reports of Eritrean forces being present in Tigray and the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Tensions have also extended to Egypt, with Ethiopia expelling an Egyptian diplomat over allegations that Cairo was supporting rebel groups. Egypt subsequently expelled a senior Ethiopian diplomat from Cairo.
The lawmakers also highlighted the conflict in neighbouring Sudan as another source of regional instability, citing allegations of Ethiopian support for the Rapid Support Forces and claims that the Sudanese Armed Forces were supporting the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
They warned that these developments could trigger a multi-front conflict with consequences for Ethiopia, the wider Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, Gulf partners and critical international shipping routes.
Senators outline seven demands for US action
The lawmakers called on the State Department to take seven key measures to prevent further escalation and address the humanitarian consequences.
First, they urged Washington to provide emergency assistance to US citizens in Ethiopia, ensuring that Americans facing potential threats from long-range attacks and airstrikes have the information and support needed to reach safety.
Second, they called for stronger US diplomatic engagement to secure an immediate ceasefire and revive political negotiations involving all relevant parties. They also urged Washington not to support or accept any attempt by Ethiopia to forcibly acquire the Port of Assab in Eritrea.
Third, the senators demanded stronger measures to protect civilians, including pressure on the parties to end the use of drones and heavy weapons in civilian areas, safeguard farmland and harvests, maintain communications and allow uninterrupted humanitarian access.
Fourth, they urged the administration to suspend new arms sales to Ethiopia while hostilities continue. They noted that Washington had lifted restrictions on arms exports to Ethiopia in May and allowed the country’s sanctions regime to expire in September.
Fifth, they called for diplomatic engagement with Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan and other regional actors to discourage military intervention, weapons transfers and other forms of support to armed groups that could widen the conflict.
Sixth, the senators urged an increase in humanitarian assistance, warning that El Niño-related droughts, renewed fighting, mass displacement and restrictions on humanitarian access were pushing vulnerable communities towards a crisis.
They said rainfall deficits in Ethiopia during the summer had exceeded 50 per cent of the average, threatening harvests and worsening food insecurity. They called on the Bureau of Disaster and Humanitarian Response to expand emergency food assistance, nutrition programmes and other lifesaving support.
Finally, the lawmakers urged the State Department to work with the Department of Homeland Security to urgently reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible Ethiopian nationals living in the United States.
They argued that renewed fighting raised serious concerns about the safety of those returning to Ethiopia and that reinstating the protection would prevent eligible individuals from being removed to unsafe conditions.
The senators concluded by urging the administration to bring greater diplomatic urgency and political engagement to the crisis before it escalates further, calling for a coordinated response to protect civilians and prevent wider regional instability.
