Will US secretary of state Antony Blinken be able to make Abiy bend to his will? After seven months of conflict in Tigray, the US secretary of state decided to engage in a showdown with the Ethiopian prime minister by announcing, on 23 May, that visa restrictions would be implemented against several officials.
Blinken said these sanctions are aimed at all actors involved, specifically, “Ethiopian or Eritrean government officials, members of the security forces, or other individuals”. But there is no doubt that the most unexpected target is Ahmed’s administration.
To justify himself, the US diplomat accused the targeted parties of having taken “no meaningful steps” to end the hostilities in Tigray, where the situation on the ground – still somewhat unclear because of restricted access for journalists and humanitarians – is becoming increasingly concerning.
A key ally
Under fire from a
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