Washington-based Al-Monitor published on 1 April 2021 an article titled "Sudan Takes Center Stage in US Regional Strategy."
The article surveys the fast changing political landscape in northeast Africa and its impact on US foreign policy as tension mounts over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia and the ongoing conflict in Tigray Region. Sudan appears to be a beneficiary of improving relations with the United States.
USAID published on 31 March 2021 a fact sheet on the Tigray conflict. Although most of it deals with the humanitarian situation in Tigray based on visits by USAID personnel and those from other assistance organizations, it contains a few nuggets of information not covered elsewhere.
Reuters published on 25 March 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Rejected U.S. Call for Unilateral Ceasefire Talks, U.S. Says" by Phil Stewart.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reportedly rejected a request from Senator Chris Coons for a unilateral cease fire in Tigray Region during their recent meeting in Addis Ababa.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Abiy announced during a just concluded visit to Asmara that "Eritrea has agreed to withdraw its forces out of the Ethiopian border" according to a March 26 report by Reuters titled "Eritrea Agrees to Withdraw Troops from Border Area, Ethiopia's PM Says."
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 24 March 2021, Senator Christopher Coons, who recently returned from Ethiopia, made brief comments on his meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Senator Coons offered a basically positive and upbeat account of the meeting.
Politico published on 24 March 2021 an article titled "Biden's Closest Senate Ally Emerges As a Shadow Secretary of State" by Andrew Desiderio.
The article provides some insight on the recent meeting in Addis Ababa between Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Middle East Institute's Monday Briefing dated 22 March 2021 included a brief piece of mine titled "Growing Tension in US-Ethiopian Relations."
I conclude that the visit to Ethiopia by Senator Christopher Coons may well determine the future of U.S.-Ethiopia relations over the coming months.
