WASHINGTON — The United States has announced visa restrictions targeting what it described as “hardline members” of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate family members, amid renewed concerns over instability in northern Ethiopia.
The US Department of State said the measures are aimed at individuals it accuses of involvement in actions undermining peace efforts in the Tigray Region, warning that escalating tensions could risk a return to large-scale conflict.
Officials noted recent clashes between the Tigray Security Forces and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, describing them as the first direct confrontations since the end of the 2020–2022 war.
The previous conflict in northern Ethiopia caused widespread destruction and a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of thousands of casualties and large-scale displacement, according to international estimates.
The State Department said the visa restrictions were imposed under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows Washington to bar entry to individuals deemed harmful to US foreign policy interests.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures are intended to promote accountability and support peace efforts in Ethiopia, while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to supporting civilians affected by the conflict.
The US emphasized that the restrictions are targeted at specific individuals and not the broader population of the Tigray region, and said it remains committed to supporting humanitarian and stabilization efforts in Ethiopia.
