Ethiopian conflict still ‘pose an unusual’ threat to American national security – Biden

JUBA – US President Joe Biden has renewed his country’s national emergency status on Ethiopia, saying that the ongoing conflict in the Horn of African country still ‘pose an unusual and extraordinary threat’ to the security of the United States.

First declared in September last year, the national emergency aim at addressing threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the “widespread violence, atrocities, and serious human rights abuses” in northern Ethiopia and the greater Horn of Africa region.

The executive order signed by President Biden had authorized the Secretary of Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to sanction certain foreign persons, including individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security, or stability of Ethiopia and corruption or serious human rights abuse.

In a statement this afternoon, Biden said the US national emergency in Ethiopia will have to continue given the continued extraordinary threats the war poses towards the national security of the United States of America.

“The situation in and in relation to northern Ethiopia, which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Ethiopia and the greater Horn of Africa region — in particular, widespread violence, atrocities, and serious human rights abuses, including those involving ethnic-based violence, rape and other forms of gender-based violence, and obstruction of humanitarian operations — continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” Biden said.

“For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14046 of September 17, 2021, must continue in effect beyond September 17, 2022.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14046 with respect to Ethiopia,” he added.