H. Res. 128 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
April 10, 2018. 
Whereas the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has 
been an important partner of the United States and a re-
gional leader in promoting economic growth, global 
health, and peace and security; 
Whereas Ethiopia has helped advance the national interests 
of the United States and regional partners, including 
through contributions to international peacekeeping, com-
bating radical Islamist extremism and other forms of ter-
rorism, and regional cooperation through the African 
Union; 
Whereas Ethiopia has made great strides in addressing sig-
nificant challenges in global health, child survival, and 
food security; 
Whereas Ethiopia’s transition from authoritarian rule to 
participatory democracy has not kept pace with other re-
forms; 
Whereas the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Demo-
cratic Front (EPRDF) claimed to win 99.6 percent of 
the vote in elections that were deemed neither free nor 
fair in 2010 and all 546 parliamentary seats in 2015, 
thereby further consolidating the EPRDF’s single party 
rule;
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Whereas the Charities and Societies Proclamation and Anti- 
Terrorism Proclamation, both enacted in 2009, have ac-
celerated the contraction of democratic space, severely 
limited the practice of fundamental human rights, en-
abled abuses by security forces, and impeded efforts to 
promote accountability for such abuses in Ethiopia; 
Whereas government forces launched a violent crackdown on 
protests by ethnic Oromo and Amhara over their per-
ceived marginalization in 2015, resulting in hundreds of 
deaths and tens of thousands of arrests; 
Whereas the Government of Ethiopia has recently released 
hundreds of political prisoners, but has continued to peri-
odically detain government critics and opposition figures; 
Whereas the Government of Ethiopia has periodically im-
posed a state of emergency that even further restricts 
freedoms of assembly, association, and expression, includ-
ing through blockage of mobile internet access and social 
media communication; 
Whereas the 2017 Department of State Country Report on 
Human Rights Practices for Ethiopia cited serious 
human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests, 
killings, and torture committed by security forces, restric-
tions on freedom of expression and freedom of associa-
tion, politically motivated trials, harassment, and intimi-
dation of opposition members and journalists; and 
Whereas these persistent human right abuses, including 
state-sponsored violence against civilians in the Oromia, 
Amhara, and Somali regions of Ethiopia, as well as the 
abuse of laws to stifle journalistic freedoms, stand in di-
rect contrast to democratic principles, violate the Con-
stitution of Ethiopia, and undermine Ethiopia’s position
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as a regional leader for economic growth, peace, and se-
curity: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes and commends Ethiopia’s efforts to 
promote regional peace and security, including through 
the contribution of peacekeeping forces to regional and 
United Nations peacekeeping operations; 
(2) recognizes the importance of continued United 
States and Ethiopian partnership in combating ter-
rorism, promoting economic growth and opportunity, and 
addressing global health challenges; 
(3) notes with deep concern persistent reports of 
widespread human rights abuses and the contraction of 
democratic space in Ethiopia, which may threaten sta-
bility and reverse economic progress over the long term; 
(4) condemns the use of excessive force by Ethio-
pian security forces, including the killing of unarmed 
protesters, and the wrongful arrest and detention of 
journalists, students, activists, and political leaders exer-
cising their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, 
association, and expression; 
(5) recognizes and commends the recent peaceful 
and voluntary transfer of authority from Prime Minister 
Hailemariam to new Prime Minister Abiy and welcomes 
Prime Minister Abiy’s inaugural speech calling for open
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political competition and the defense of fundamental 
human rights; 
(6) calls on the Government of Ethiopia to— 
(A) lift the state of emergency; 
(B) repeal or amend proclamations used as a 
tool to suppress human rights in Ethiopia, including 
the Charities and Societies Proclamation and Anti- 
Terrorism Proclamation of 2009, and respect the 
rights of Ethiopian citizens to freedom of assembly 
and expression, in keeping with Articles 30 and 29 
of the Ethiopian Constitution; 
(C) end the use of excessive force by Ethiopian 
security forces and hold accountable those respon-
sible for killing, torturing, or otherwise abusing the 
human rights of civilians exercising their constitu-
tional rights through fair and public trials; 
(D) release all activists, journalists, and oppo-
sition figures who have been wrongfully imprisoned 
for exercising their constitutional rights, including 
those arrested for reporting about public protests; 
(E) improve transparency around development 
policies and activities that may infringe upon the 
human rights of local communities; and
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(F) allow for an independent examination of 
the state of human rights in Ethiopia by a 
rapporteur appointed by the United Nations; 
(7) urges protesters in Ethiopia to refrain from the 
use or incitement of violence in demonstrations; 
(8) urges opposition groups and the Government of 
Ethiopia to directly engage in peaceful discussions to air 
grievances and broaden political discourse; 
(9) calls on the Department of State and the 
United States Agency for International Development— 
(A) to engage in a cooperative effort with the 
Government of Ethiopia in the formulation of a 
comprehensive strategy, in coordination with other 
donors, to help advance democracy, rule of law, 
human rights, economic growth, and peace and se-
curity in Ethiopia; 
(B) continue to strengthen ties with Ethiopia, 
including through the provision of appropriate levels 
and forms of security assistance, in correlation to 
the Ethiopian Government’s own demonstrated 
commitment to democracy, rule of law, human 
rights, economic growth, and peace and security in 
the region; 
(C) condemn human rights abuses and the ex-
cessive use of force by Ethiopian security forces
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while pressing for the release of individuals wrong-
fully detained; and 
(D) hold accountable individuals responsible 
for gross human rights violations in Ethiopia 
through appropriate mechanisms, which may in-
clude the imposition of targeted sanctions pursuant 
to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Account-
ability Act (Public Law 114–328); and 
(10) stands by the people of Ethiopia and supports 
their peaceful efforts to increase democratic space and to 
exercise the rights guaranteed by the Ethiopian Con-
stitution. 
Attest: 
Clerk.