Dear Senator X,

As your constituent, I have been devastated by the war in Tigray and the rest of northern Ethiopia. Since the war began in November 2020, other concerned citizens and I have advocated tirelessly for peace, relief, and accountability.

I write to you in support of S.3199, the Ethiopia Peace and Democracy Promotion Act of 2021. S.3199 is a bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Jim Risch, and Senator Chris Coons.

The war in northern Ethiopia has been characterized by countless massacres of civilians, systematic sexual violence of girls and women, and starvation used as a weapon of war. The Tigray region has been especially affected by the war. In June 2021 a UN analysis stated 350,000 people in Tigray were living in famine conditions. USAID put the number at up to 900,000. Since July 2021 the Ethiopian government has enacted what the UN calls a “de facto blockade” on Tigray, allowing less than 7% of needed aid to reach the region, with no aid convoys carrying food arriving since December 15, 2021. No concrete steps toward a negotiated ceasefire have taken place. On the contrary, the resumption of full scale fighting seems likelier with each passing day.

After over 500 days, it is clear that the international community’s current approach toward resolving the conflict in Ethiopia is not working. The Ethiopia Peace and Democracy Promotion Act will ensure that all warring parties in Ethiopia come to the negotiating table and face accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed throughout the conflict.

S.3199 restricts assistance to Ethiopia’s security services and other financing of the government (exempting life saving humanitarian assistance) until the Government of Ethiopia ceases offensive operations in northern Ethiopia, takes steps toward genuine national dialogue, allows unfettered humanitarian access, and cooperates with independent investigations of atrocities and crimes against humanity.

I strongly urge you to support this important bill for peace and stability in Ethiopia.