U.S. Government’s response to questions about imposing restrictions on Ethiopian opposition group AG7

The U.S. Government has imposed restrictions on the exiled Ethiopian opposition group Arbegnoch Ginbot 7 (AG7), according to ER sources. The restrictions include travel ban on senior AG7 leaders who reside in other countries from entering the U.S. Additionally, officials of the U.S. Government have instructed AG7 Chairman Dr Berhanu Nega to keep his group’s political activities in Ethiopia peaceful in order to remain in compliance with U.S. laws. The IRS has also begun to look into the finances of AG7 and its affiliated groups, according to ER investigation. We are awaiting an officials response from the IRS on this matter.

The U.S. Government took such action following Under Secretary Sherman’s visit to Ethiopia in April 2015. While she was in Ethiopia she told reporters: “We know there are individuals who are associated with Ginbot 7 who live in the United States and we will certainly address through appropriate channels all of the concerns that the government of Ethiopia has raised with us.”

I have requested further official explanation on Wendy Sherman’s unprecedented statement. I sent emails and made phone calls to the State Department asking: 1) Has Under Secretary Sherman followed up on her statement about Ginbot 7? and 2) If so, what specific actions have been taken, and by which U.S. Government agency? I have also asked them to confirm or deny reports that the U.S. Government has imposed restrictions on AG7 senior leaders.

After two weeks of attempts, I have received this official email from the State Department’s Bureau for African Affairs: “We have looked into these inquiries, however we have no further updates or information to share with you at this time.”

I have shared the email with some individuals, including U.S. journalists, and all of them agreed that it is as good as a confirmation that the U.S. Government is cracking down on Ginbot 7.

It is puzzling that the U.S. Government has taken such a step against a multi-ethnic Ethiopian opposition group that has not fired a single bullet yet, while other Ethiopian opposition groups, such as the Eritrea-sponsored OLF that has been waging a separatist war in Ethiopia for a long time, have been allowed to open offices in Washington DC and travel freely in and out of the U.S. TPLF leaders, such as Samora Yenus, who are responsible for genocidal wars in Ogaden and Gambella, and have murdered thousands of Ethiopian civilians over the past 4 decades, are occasional dinner guests of Susan Rice and other senior Obama Administration officials.

The decision by Dr Berhanu Nega and AG7’s leadership to keep the U.S. Government’s action against them secret is also puzzling. Apparently they have a habit of keeping secrets from the Ethiopian people, the same secrets that are known to TPLF and others. For instance: 1) They had tried to keep their relation with the Eritrean regime secret until I reported about it. 2) When their secretary general Andargachew Tsige was abducted by TPLF in collaboration with the Eritrean intelligence in June 2014, they kept it secret for over a week, denying his contacts in Ethiopia an opportunity to escape. And now, the U.S. Government’s action is not secret to TPLF and other forces. Only the people of Ethiopia have been kept in the dark about it for over 2 months.

Placing restriction by the U.S. Government on AG7 was unnecessary because as President Obama said recently, there is nothing they are doing that justifies such action. What the U.S. is doing only emboldens Ethiopia’s fascist junta to continue committing more atrocities and terrorizing the people of Ethiopia.

Misraq wrote:

Halafi Mengedi wrote:Hey Birye,Are you still sick you must get out from the US soil. The doctors should examine his intestine he may be swallowed some Naqfa since he could not pass the security of Shaeboo.

Old Temben F@rt,

Very soon, i will disclose your true identity. I am finalizing all the background study on you and believe me i have pictures of you, your address in the state of Texas, how and when you left TPLF, the reason..etc. Suprisingly, you are not acting like this socially when you meet ethiopians in person. stay tuned. i struggled with myself on whether to release the information or not. But the more i waited, the more i found about you. are you ready for the disclosure?

Jimmy El Conquistador

I think you need some entertainment for your dedication what you do best investigating people since you could not have reasons either to stop them or convert them to your believe. Anyway, here is for your relief of pain and headache.