Rep. Jim McGovern

My statement with @RepMcGovern and @RepGaramendi: We are deeply alarmed by increasing violence in Ethiopia, including the Ethiopian military strike last week on an aid convoy delivering assistance in Tigray. The 2022 Pretoria Agreement that silenced the guns in Northern Ethiopia committed all parties to ceasing hostilities, protecting civilians, allowing humanitarian access to those affected, and undertaking comprehensive transitional justice to hold those responsible for human rights abuses and violations responsible. Unfortunately, this agreement has not been upheld, and these conditions have not been met. This increased conflict threatens the entire country and the region as a whole, which is already reeling from the previous war in Northern Ethiopia and the devastating conflict in Sudan. Ordinary civilians are bearing the brunt of this violence. We urge all parties in Ethiopia to immediately recommit to peace negotiations and uphold their responsibilities under the Pretoria Agreement. Ethiopia’s neighbors and the international community must work to defuse tensions and facilitate peace. We also urge the U.S. State Department to work with all parties to end the violence and hold those responsible accountable. The people of Ethiopia deserve peace and justice.