Washington D.C., Feb 16, 2017 / 10:44 am
One member of Congress is hoping for a "serious policy review" by the Trump administration of the United States' relationship with Ethiopia, citing human rights abuses by the government there.
"To truly stop violence abroad, Ethiopia must stop violence at home," Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the House subcommittee on Africa and global human rights, stated at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday.
"Since 2005, untold thousands of students have been jailed, have been shot during demonstrations or have simply disappeared in the last 11 years," Smith stated Feb. 15. "Ethiopia's next generation is being taught that the rights that democracy normally bestows on a country's citizens don't apply in their country."
Smith and Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) introduced a House resolution (H. Res. 128) Wednesday "highlighting the crisis in Ethiopia due to government violations of the human rights of its citizens," Smith stated.