U.S. Sanctions TPLF Members Over Threats to Ethiopia Peace Process

The U.S. has imposed visa sanctions on unnamed TPLF-linked individuals, accusing them of undermining Ethiopia’s peace process and warning that rising tensions could threaten the 2022 peace deal.

The United States announced on Thursday that it is imposing sanctions on individuals linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), accusing them of actions that are undermining efforts to maintain peace in Ethiopia.

According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, rising tensions between hardline elements within the TPLF and Ethiopia’s federal government are posing a serious risk of renewed conflict in the Tigray region. The statement warned that these developments could reverse progress made under the 2022 peace agreement that ended years of devastating war.

While the U.S. confirmed the sanctions, it did not publicly identify the individuals targeted. The measures include visa restrictions affecting the individuals and, in some cases, their immediate family members, limiting their ability to travel to the United States.

The TPLF and the federal authorities in Addis Ababa have continued to accuse each other of actions that could reignite conflict. Relations between the two sides have remained fragile since the outbreak of war in November 2020, when Tigray regional forces launched an attack on federal troops, triggering a conflict that caused widespread destruction and humanitarian suffering.

Although a peace agreement was signed in 2022 to end the fighting, implementation of the deal has faced growing challenges. Observers say mistrust between both sides has deepened over time, with disputes over political authority, security arrangements, and regional governance.

Tensions escalated further when the TPLF reportedly held a regional vote in May, despite being barred from engaging in political activity under the terms of the peace agreement. The move was viewed by federal authorities as a violation of the accord and contributed to renewed accusations of non-compliance.

The U.S. said the latest sanctions are intended to discourage actions that could destabilise the fragile peace process and to encourage both parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement. Washington has repeatedly called for restraint and dialogue as concerns grow that the situation in northern Ethiopia could deteriorate once again into open conflict.