The American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee (AEPAC) endorses the letter submitted to Secretary Rubio by the Horn of Africa Community and 14 other organizations. In the letter, the diaspora organizations express their strong belief that: “A well-calibrated ‘America First’ foreign policy can elevate African nations into enduring trade and security partners.” The letter also conveys the diaspora’s appreciation for Secretary Rubio’s decision to cancel his planned visit to Ethiopia, noting that such a visit would have conferred unwarranted legitimacy on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s destabilizing regime. Furthermore, the letter strongly condemns the Abiy Ahmed regime’s drone strike that killed over 150 civilians—primarily women and children—within just two days during the Easter holiday season in the Amhara region. It also denounces the government’s assault on the education system, which has left more than 9 million students out of school. In conclusion, the letter states: “We respectfully urge you to build enduring partnerships with the Ethiopian people, supported by the American Ethiopian diaspora, rather than with a regime that oppresses them. We look forward to engaging with your office to offer our full support. @WhiteHouse, @StateDept, @USEmbassyAddis, @UAEthio, @UNOSAPG, @VP, @realDonaldTrump, @TheIRD, @StateDRL, @AsstSecStateAF, @richghazal, @markdtooley, @OrthodoxyNews, @indefchristians, @RepJohnJames, @housegop, @Repsarajacobs, @YoungKimCA, @RepJimBaird, @RepMillsPress, @RepGaramendi, @IMFNews, @JusticeOfficeUS, @WorldBank, @WorldBankAfrica, @StateIRF, @USCIRF, @IrfSecretariat, @Sean_ADFIntl,@SenMarcoRubio, @RubenGallego, @ElissaSlotkin, @AndyKimNJ,@AdamSchiff, @CEXAlsobrooks,@CurtisUT,@RepGaramendi,@RepSaraJacobs, @RepJimBaird, @RepYoungKim, @RepMillsPress, @CongresswomanSC

Members of the Ethiopian-American Coalition—including the Horn of Africa Community, the United Women of the Horn, and the American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee—had a productive meeting today with aides to Secretary Rubio at the State Department. They discussed key issues raised in a recent joint letter from diverse American-Ethiopian organizations to Secretary Rubio, including the need for peace in Ethiopia and conflict resolution under the new administration's policies. The group also briefed Senate Foreign Relations staff on these critical concerns. There was broad agreement that a stable and peaceful Ethiopia aligns with the new administration’s America First policy. The reckless actions of the Ethiopian government, along with other irresponsible actors, must be checked, as instability in the Horn of Africa threatens to undermine President Trump’s agenda. @WhiteHouse, @StateDept, @USEmbassyAddis, @UAEthio, @UNOSAPG, @VP, @realDonaldTrump, @TheIRD, @StateDRL, @AsstSecStateAF, @richghazal, @markdtooley, @OrthodoxyNews, @indefchristians, @RepJohnJames, @housegop, @Repsarajacobs, @YoungKimCA, @RepJimBaird, @RepMillsPress, @RepGaramendi, @IMFNews, @JusticeOfficeUS, @WorldBank, @WorldBankAfrica, @StateIRF, @USCIRF, @IrfSecretariat, @Sean_ADFIntl,@SenMarcoRubio, @RubenGallego, @ElissaSlotkin, @AndyKimNJ,@AdamSchiff, @CEXAlsobrooks,@CurtisUT,@RepGaramendi,@RepSaraJacobs, @RepJimBaird, @RepYoungKim, @RepMillsPress, @CongresswomanSC @UWHorn1 @HoACommunity