Wendy Sherman: “I will turn my attention to an issue that too many in Washington didn't pay attention to, as over 600,000 people died…”

“I will turn my attention to an issue that too many in Washington didn't pay attention to, as over 600,000 people died, and now some are not paying attention to the theory that the problem is over. I speak of northern Ethiopia, Tigray. While the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was signed in November, the Tigrayan people continue to face ethnic violence and discrimination. Earlier this month, the AP reported that Amhara forces have renewed their campaign of ethnic cleansing against Tigrayan civilians and have uprooted roughly 47,000 Tigrayans from areas in southern Tigray just since March. The Amhara forces are carrying out this campaign of ethnic cleansing through forced evictions, harassment, and murder. Throughout all history, ethnic cleansing and genocide have gone together. This is not a standalone event, but rather, follows a horrific campaign of ethnic cleansing of Tigrayan civilians by Amhara regional forces that began in the year 2020. Last year, Secretary Blinken publicly recognized that ``Members of the Amhara forces also committed the crime against humanity of deportation or forcible transfer and committed ethnic cleansing in western Tigray,'' in addition to ``war crimes'' and ``crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence and persecution.'' This is on top of the involvement of Eritrean forces in Tigray. Eritrea is a separate country. It has no business having its troops anywhere in Ethiopia.…”