Bipartisan Bill Would Strengthen Export Controls, Require Sanctions for Conflict in Ethiopia
Senate Foreign Relations Committee members introduced a bill Nov. 4 that would require more export controls and sanctions against those contributing to or profiting from the civil war in Ethiopia. The bill, introduced by committee Chair Sen. Bob Menendez, N.J., ranking member Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., “builds upon” the U.S.’s Ethiopian sanctions regime by requiring “targeted sanctions” against people and entities undermining peace in the country, doing certain business with senior government leadership, providing weapons to the warring parties and more. Although the Biden administration in September established a new Ethiopian sanctions regime (see 2109170036) and recently increased export restrictions for defense exports to Ethiopia (see 2110290004), the U.S. hasn’t yet issued specific sanctions.
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“I am committed to continue working with my colleagues to secure this legislation’s passage and demonstrate that the United States will match our words of support with unflinching, definitive and robust action,” Menendez said. Risch said the bill sends “a strong bipartisan message that Congress will not stand by as the war in northern Ethiopia continues without action from all sides.”
Although the State Department this month said it will adopt a policy of denial for defense exports to the armed forces of Ethiopia or Eritrea, the bill would require that “no license may be issued” to either country for any item on the U.S. Munitions List. It also calls on the administration to work with the United Nations Security Council, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union, African Union and others to coordinate multilateral export controls and sanctions on people contributing to the war.