Ethiopia: Senior State Department Official Draws Washington Post Criticism

The Washington Post published on 30 April 2015 an editorial titled "The United States' Irresponsible Praise of Ethiopia's Regime" that took direct aim at comments made during a visit to Ethiopia by the State Department's Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Wendy Sherman. 

In a letter to the editor dated 6 May 2015 titled "The U.S. Relationship with Ethiopia," Wendy Sherman replied that Ethiopia is a valuable partner in a critical region, from peacekeeping to fighting al-Shabaab to pursuing peace in South Sudan.  At the same time, she said she expressed during her visit to Ethiopia concerns about restrictions on political space, arrests and imprisonments of independent journalists, and use of antiterrorism legislation to stifle political dissent.