The United States has lifted an arms embargo on Ethiopia which was imposed in 2021 during the war between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led regional administration.
The U.S. State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) announced Thursday the lifting of the embargo by removing Ethiopia will be removed from the list of countries subject to a “policy of denial” under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
The restrictions on Ethiopia were first introduced in September 2021 amid the war in Tigray. At the time, the DDTC announced a “policy of denial” for controlled defense exports to Ethiopia and Eritrea, citing the deteriorating humanitarian crisis and hostilities. The measure was later formalised through an amendment adding Ethiopia to ITAR §126.1(n).
The war that caused the arms embargo started when the TPLF attacked the northern command of the Ethiopian Defence Force – as the federal government claims – in November 2020. It ended in November 2022 with the signing of the Pretoria Agreement.
In addition to imposing an arms embargo on the federal government, Washington was a key player in brokering the Cessation of Hostility Agreement which the TPLF declared void last month on alleged grounds that Addis Ababa had violated it.
News of the lifting of arms sanctions on Ethiopia came at a time when the United States is reportedly considering lifting sanctions on Eritrea, an important actor in the Horn of Africa that has shifted military and political alliance towards TPLF.
Ethiopia has been accusing Eritrea of backing rebels in the country including the TPLF.
Ethiopia has been procuring arms from abroad Russia, Turkey, UAE and more recently Azerbaijan.
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the US has started a diplomatic effort to mediate between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
The two countries have been on a war posturing for over a year.
On the surface, Addis Ababa’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea by “any means” is considered to be the cause of tension with Asmara.
MG/as/APA