That the House of Representatives—
stands by the people of Ethiopia and supports their peaceful efforts to advance democratic reforms and to exercise the rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Ethiopia;
strongly supports the historic reform measures undertaken by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed since 2018, including efforts to promote human rights, privatize the economy, repeal restrictions on freedoms of expression, organize the first ever multi-party Presidential elections, and resolve regional conflicts;
condemns—
the targeted violence and destruction of property directed against ethnic and religious minorities;
the excessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces against peaceful protesters;
the arrest and detention of journalists and peaceful protesters who exercised their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression; and
hate speech and disinformation that fuel ethnic and political violence, propagated by individuals and organized groups based in Ethiopia and in the diaspora;
urges protesters in Ethiopia to refrain from violence and to refrain from incitement or acceptance of violence in demonstrations;
urges all political, religious, and community leaders to call for calm and encourage their supporters to reject violence;
urges all armed factions to cease their conflict with the Government of Ethiopia and engage in peaceful negotiations directly or through intermediaries;
welcomes efforts by reformed national institutions such as the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to foster respect for human rights and the rule of law;
calls on the Government of Ethiopia to—
conduct full, credible, and transparent investigations into the killings that took place in Oromia, Addis Ababa, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region amid the recent protests and unrest, including an investigation into the assassination of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa;
take immediate steps to prevent the use of excessive force by security forces and ensure accountability for security forces found responsible;
demonstrate respect for due process and ensure fair, transparent, and expeditious trials of journalists, activists, and opposition politicians arrested during the recent unrest;
respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and guarantee the freedom of the press and mass media, in keeping with Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution of Ethiopia;
resume dialogue with opposition parties on outstanding issues regarding democratic transformation, including determining a timeline for national elections; and
consider employing transitional justice approaches, mechanisms, and measures to address grievances in order to contribute to a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous future for Ethiopia;
calls on the United States Government to—
play a more active and vocal role in encouraging and supporting an inclusive, intra-Ethiopian dialogue on democratic reforms, elections, ethnic violence, and accountability for serious human rights abuses;
immediately allow all obligated and planned bilateral foreign assistance to Ethiopia to continue, including critical funding for global health security, civil society and election preparedness, economic growth, food security, and counterterrorism; and
consider application of existing United States sanctions authority, including as provided for in the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights;
supports the African Union-led GERD negotiations among Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan, and support an equitable outcome fair to all parties; and
supports increased United States private sector investment in Ethiopia, including in key sectors such as telecommunications, energy, and agriculture, and encourages continued efforts to spur economic growth and privatize the economy.