U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions On Ethiopian Hardliners

The United States has imposed targeted visa restrictions on individuals it says are undermining peace efforts in Ethiopia, focusing on hardline members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members.

Rising tensions between TPLF hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite conflict in northern Ethiopia and undermine peace and security across the region.

The situation has been further strained following recent clashes between elements of the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF), marking the first direct engagement since the end of the 2020–2022 war.

The earlier conflict devastated the region, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and displacing millions, and continues to shape fragile security dynamics in northern Ethiopia.

According to the U.S. State Department, the visa restriction policy is being implemented under the authority of Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

It targets individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, actions that undermine efforts to resolve the crisis in the Tigray region.

“This visa restriction policy targets individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution to the crisis in the Tigray region,” the State Department said in a statement.

The United States said it remains committed to supporting the Ethiopian people, including communities in Tigray, who are seeking peace and stability.

It added that it will continue to use available tools to promote accountability for individuals it considers threats to regional peace.