The U.S. Department of State on Wednesday announced targetted visa restrictions on individuals behind crisis in Ethiopia.

A statement by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, spokesperson for U.S. State Department, on Wednesday, said “Today, pursuant to his authority under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Secretary Rubio is taking steps to impose visa restrictions on hardline members of the TPLF and their immediate family members.”

It added, “This visa restriction policy targets individuals who are responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution to the crisis in the Tigray region.”

Explaining the visa restrictions, the U.S. Department of State said that “rising tensions between Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) hardliners and the Ethiopian government have threatened to reignite the conflict in northern Ethiopia and undermine peace and security across the entire region.”

It added, “Earlier this year, members of the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) clashed with Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), their first direct engagement since the end of the 2020-2022 conflict, which resulted in the loss of 600,000 lives and brought the region to the brink of famine.”

According to the U.S. Department of State, hundreds of thousands of civilians across northern Ethiopia already fled their homes, fearing a return to war.

It  stated that said the United States would continue to stand with the Ethiopian people, including the people of Tigray, who want to live in peace and dignity. 

It added, “We will continue to use all tools available to expose and promote accountability for TPLF officials and other individuals who threaten that peace and stability in the region.”