ADDIS REPORTER ADDIS ABABA — The United States government has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting hardline members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and their immediate families, accusing them of actively undermining peace and stability in northern Ethiopia.
The policy, enacted under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, was officially declared by the U.S. State Department.
According to Washington, the decision comes in response to escalating tensions between TPLF hardliners and the Ethiopian federal government, which U.S. officials warn could reignite full-scale conflict in a region still recovering from the devastating 2020–2022 war.
Renewed Clashes Spark Regional Alarm
The State Department’s announcement specifically highlighted recent military friction in the region, noting that members of the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) had clashed with the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) earlier this year.
The incident marked the first direct military engagement between the two sides since the end of the 2020–2022 conflict, which resulted in the loss of an estimated 600,000 lives and brought the region to the brink of famine.
“Rising tensions between Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite the conflict in northern Ethiopia and undermine peace and security across the entire region,” the State Department statement read.
The U.S. government noted that the renewed instability has already caused hundreds of thousands of civilians across northern Ethiopia to flee their homes out of fear of a return to war.
Washington Signals Push for Accountability
The targeted visa restrictions are designed to penalize individuals deemed responsible for, or complicit in, obstructing a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in the Tigray region. By including immediate family members, the policy significantly tightens the travel constraints on affected TPLF officials.
While the State Department did not publicly release the specific names of the individuals placed on the visa ban list—citing U.S. confidentiality laws regarding visa records—it signaled that Washington is prepared to take further measures if necessary.
“The United States will continue to stand with the Ethiopian people, including the people of Tigray, who want to live in peace and dignity,” the statement concluded, adding that the U.S. will utilize “all tools available to expose and promote accountability” for those threatening regional stability.
The federal government of Ethiopia and the TPLF interim administration have yet to issue official responses to the newly imposed restrictions.
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