On 29 March 2021, a Facebook post by the name Nahoo Media emerged, claiming that the US has banned senior Ethiopian and Eritrean officials from attending any international meeting. However HaqCheck looked into the post and confirmed the information is not true, Therefore rendered the post as FALSE.
Granted, Ethiopia is amidst an armed conflict between the federal government and TPLF-led armed forces. The US recently called for the immediate cease of fighting in Tigray. The American state secretary Antonio Bllinken called for an immediate end to hostilities and the withdrawal of Amhara and Eritrean forces from Tigray. However, on 23 March 2021 Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (Ph. D) admitted in a parliamentary session that Eritrean troops had entered Tigray and, it was announced on 26 March 2021, that the government of Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border. Following that in the Department’s press briefing held on 26 March 2020, it was announced that the administration has been encouraged by Prime Minister Abiy’s announcement. On 29 March 2020, the US secretary Antonio Blinken had a meeting with the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. They discussed efforts in Ethiopia to secure greater humanitarian access across the country, the necessity for Eritrean forces to withdraw from Tigray, and the need for independent, international investigations into human rights abuses while noting the recent travel of Senator Christopher Coons as President Biden’s emissary.
However, HaqCheck has looked into the claim and checked all the recent announcements and press briefing given by the U.S. administration regarding Ethiopia and Eritrea and couldn’t find any related information about the issue. HaqCheck has also contacted the US Embassy in Ethiopia via Email and confirmed, from its Spokesperson, that the information is not true and that the U.S. has not banned Ethiopian and Eritrean officials from attending any international meetings, therefore rendering the post as FALSE.
Fact checked by: Rehobot Ayalew
This article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking initiative, run by its R&D Department.
