Final Departure of USAID Employees from Washington Headquarters

 ABC News published on 27 February 2025 an article titled "'Heartbreaking': USAID Staffers Clear Out Desks after DOGE Layoffs" by Fritz Farrow and Kelly Livingston.

The Trump administration put 4,080 USAID employees on leave on 24 February and fired another 1,600 as it continues to dismantle the organization.  This article covers the departure during the 15-minute window USAID employees were given on 27-28 February to clean out personal items from their former offices at the Washington headquarters.  

China and Russia Are Big Winners from Dismantling of USAID

 The New York Times published on 6 February 2025 a guest essay titled "I Ran U.S.A.I.D.  Killing It is a Win for Autocrats Everywhere" by Samantha Power, USAID administrator during the Biden administration.

The Trump administration plans to retain only about 290 of USAID's 14,000 employees worldwide, effectively dismantling the organization.  The former administrator of USAID explains the negative impact this will have on American global security and how China and Russia will be the major beneficiaries.  

Ethiopia: Halt in Emergency Food Aid to Tigray Because of Diversion

 Reuters published on 3 May 2023 an article titled "USAID Pauses Food Assistance to Tigray Region of Ethiopia" by Jasper Ward.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced a temporary suspension of its food assistance to Tigray Region because food intended for people in need and free of charge was being diverted and sold in the local market.

US Sends Disaster Response Team to Monitor Sudan Crisis

 Reuters published on 23 April 2023 an article titled "US Deploying Disaster-response Team for Sudan" by Daphne Psaledakis.  

USAID has deployed a disaster-response team to Kenya to coordinate the humanitarian effort for Sudan.  It will identify priority needs for the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to the country.  

US Considers Economic Lifeline to Ethiopia

 Foreign Policy published on 9 March 2023 an article titled "U.S. Weighs Offering Economic Lifeline to Ethiopia Despite War Atrocities" by Robbie Gramer.  

The author reports that the Biden administration is weighing plans to lift restrictions on aid and financial assistance to Ethiopia in a move that will be criticized by human rights groups that want accountability for atrocities during the civil war with Tigray Region.  

Russia and United States: Dueling Visits to Africa

 Foreign Policy published on 28 July 2022 an article titled "U.S. Follows Russia in Dueling Trips to Africa" by Robbie Gramer and Jack Detsch.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently completed a four-country visit to Africa pressing Moscow's case for invading Ukraine.  US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Africa in August with likely stops in South Africa and the DRC.  USUN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is going to Ghana and Uganda next week and USAID Director Samantha Power visited Kenya and Somalia last week.  

Ethiopia: Commentary that Will Upset Almost Everyone

 Canada's Macdonald-Laurier Institute posted on 19 November 2021 a commentary titled "Why the US Needs to Reset Its Approach to the Conflict in Ethiopia" by Yonas Birru, former World Bank employee. 

Some element of this commentary will anger nearly every politically aware member of the Ethiopian diaspora and a lot of outside observers.  But that may be a good thing.  Perhaps it is time that everyone consider looking at this conflict from a different perspective.   

USAID Administrator Statement on Conflict in Ethiopia

 USAID Administrator Samantha Power issued on 4 November 2021 a statement titled "On One Year of Conflict in Northern Ethiopia."

Power called on the TPLF to halt its military advance towards Addis Ababa, an end to human rights violations and hate speech.  She noted that the US has provided $663 million in humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the conflict.  

US Concern Increases and Ethiopian War Grows

 ABC News published on 14 October 2021 a report titled "US Pushes Diplomacy, Prepares Sanctions as Ethiopia Launches New Offensive in Brutal War, Rising Famine" by Conor Finnegan.

As the war expands in Ethiopia and atrocities are attributed to both sides, the United States is growing increasingly concerned and looking more seriously at sanctions.

Ethiopian-American Relationship

 ESAT TV broadcast on 23 September 2021 a 44-minute program with me titled "Ethio-American Relationship" moderated by Gizaw Legesse.  

The focus of the discussion was the US-Ethiopian relationship and especially the meaning and significance of the recent executive order by President Biden concerning sanctions in Ethiopia.

Should the US Impose More Sanctions on Parties to Conflict in Ethiopia?

 World Politics Review published on 27 August 2021 a commentary titled "The U.S. Needs Sharper Tools to Stop the War in Ethiopia" by Cameron Hudson, Atlantic Council.  

So far, US efforts to stop the conflict in Ethiopia have consisted only of limited visa restrictions on officials on all sides, withholding new investment guarantees, and delaying new funding for multilateral development projects.  The author argues it is time for the US to impose real costs on the contending parties, including an arms embargo and an effort to seek a UN Security Council arms embargo.  He adds it should also put sanctions on more individuals and companies, possibly including Ethiopian Airways and the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, that are implicated in the conflict.  

Comment:  The problem with this approach is that the government of Ethiopia would face most of the sanctions and it is questionable whether the sanctions would help end the conflict anyway.  At the same time, all sides to the conflict need to be jolted back to the reality that they are tearing Ethiopia apart.  The current trajectory will lead to losers everywhere; there will be no winners.  

Restrictions on Food for Tigray Increase Famine Threat

 The Associated Press published on 20 August 2021 an article titled "US Says Food Aid Runs Out This Week in Ethiopia's Tigray" by Cara Anna.

USAID says that food is not reaching Tigray Region in adequate amounts because of obstructions imposed by the Ethiopian government.  USAID reports that up to 900,000 people face famine conditions in Tigray Region.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Rebuffs USAID Administrator

 Foreign Policy published on 11 August 2021 a commentary titled "Why Did Ethiopia's Prime Minister Rebuff Samantha Power?" by Robbie Gramer.

USAID Administrator Samantha Power's failure to meet wih Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during her short visit to Ethiopia has been interpreted as a further deterioration in US-Ethiopian relations.  The explanation for the meeting not taking place is that the prime minister was out of Addis Ababa the day of Power's visit. The USAID Administrator did meet with Ethiopia's Minister of Peace.

Podcast on Growing Humanitarian Crisis in Ethiopia

 National Public Radio posted on 10 August 2021 a 13 minute podcast titled "Ethiopia's Civil War Is Becoming a Humanitarian Crisis."

The podcast describes the deteriorating situation in Ethiopia, including an interview with Samantha Power, USAID administrator who recently visited Addis Ababa,

USAID Administrator's Visit to Ethiopia

 The Washington Post published on 5 August 2021 an article titled "Samantha Power Has Long Championed Humanitarian Intervention.  Ethiopia's Crisis Is Putting Her to the Test" by Max Bearak and John Hudson.  

USAID Administrator Samantha Power is an advocate of humanitarian intervention and she has an unusual degree of power in the Biden administration.  Ethiopia is proving to test her ability to use humanitarian intervention to achieve US policy goals.  

USAID Administrator Calls for Tigrayan Troops to Withdraw from Amhara and Afar Regions

 The Voice of America published on 4 August 2021 a story titled "USAID Head Pushes for Humanitarian Aid Access in Tigray."

USAID Administrator Samantha Power, in Addis Ababa, called on the government of Ethiopia to allow clear access for humanitarian aid to Tigray Region and for the Tigray Defense Forces to withdraw from neighboring Amhara and Afar Regions.  

USAID Administrator Visits Ethiopian Refugees in Eastern Sudan

 USAID posted on 3 August 2021 a press release titled "USAID Administrator Samantha Power Visits Ethiopian Refugees in Eastern Sudan."

USAID Administrator Samantha Power visited Ethiopian refugees at the Um Rakuba camp in eastern Sudan's Gedaref State on 2 August.  She listened to accounts of sexual violence perpetrated against women.

Up to 900,000 Face Famine in Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 The Associated Press published on 26 June 2021 an article titled "Up to 900,000 in Ethiopia's Tigray Face Famine, US Says."

The article quotes USAID head Samantha Power, who said the United States now estimates that up to 900,000 people in Tigray Region face famine conditions.

This new estimate more than doubles the warning issued earlier this month by the United Nations and aid groups that more than 350,000 faced famine.  See USAID's "Ethiopia - Tigray Crisis" dated 16 June 2021.