Africa-Press. The United States has lifted the arms embargo it imposed on Ethiopia during the Tigray War, marking a significant shift in Washington’s relationship with Addis Ababa amid rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The decision was announced by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the U.S. Department of State, which confirmed Ethiopia’s removal from the list of countries subject to the “embargo policy” under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
These restrictions were first imposed in September 2021 as fighting intensified between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
Washington justified the ban on controlled defense exports to both Ethiopia and Eritrea due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation and escalating hostilities. The conflict, which began in November 2020, ended with the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement in November 2022. However, tensions have persisted in northern Ethiopia, where the Tigray People’s Liberation Front recently accused Addis Ababa of violating terms of the ceasefire agreement.
The lifting of the embargo comes at a time when reports indicate that the United States is also considering easing sanctions imposed on Eritrea, a key regional player whose relations with Ethiopia have sharply deteriorated over the past year.
Regional tensions have been partly fueled by Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea, a move that has raised concerns in Eritrea and increased fears of renewed conflict between the two neighboring countries.
During the embargo, Ethiopia increased its reliance on military equipment from countries including Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan. The United States has not publicly commented on reports of its attempts to mediate between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
