On Wednesday, March 24, the US Senate advanced its Resolution 97 (S. Res. 97) for consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ethiopian diplomats celebrated the bill’s advancement, hopeful that the US will at last provide key support to the nation’s embattled population suffering from conflict and human rights abuses by the Ethiopian government.
But what does this mean for Oromos?
What is S. Res. 97?
S. Res. 97 was first drafted as a US response to the current war in Tigray. The bill calls upon “the Ethiopian government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, and other belligerents to cease all hostilities, protect human rights, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and cooperate with independent investigations” into atrocities committed in the country. If passed, the resolution would formally establish the US’ position on the Tigrayan conflict and create increased political space for the Biden administration to intervene in Ethiopia.
How Could S. Res. 97 Help Oromos?
While the bill was drafted with a focus on the Tigrayan conflict, S. Res. 97 would also achieve significant victories for Oromos across Ethiopia.
S. Res. 97 would formally recognize the increase in violence and human rights atrocities in Oromia and other regions of Ethiopia, citing documentation of human rights abuses by Amnesty International. This documentation includes Amnesty’s 2020 report, Beyond Law Enforcement, which reveals the extent of government atrocities against the Oromo population, specifically.
The resolution would acknowledge the Ethiopian government’s wrongful imprisonment of political opposition leaders, like Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba, and highlights the government’s restriction on free political expression, media activity, and fair legal proceedings for Oromos and other groups.
Crucially, S. Res. 97 would call upon Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to release all political prisoners and establish a national dialogue between the federal government and all political and ethnic groups—including Oromos. This dialogue would allow Oromos to register their grievances with the government and actively shape a more democratic, peaceful Ethiopia.
What Will Happen Next?
As of March 25, S. Res. 97 is not yet law. The bill must pass through three stages of Senate votes before it can be ratified, or made official. This week, S. Res. 97 successfully passed through stage two. The next step is for the Senate at large to vote on the bill, and there is no guarantee that S. Res. 97 will advance through this final stage.
Call your senators and tell them to advance S. Res. 97 to a floor vote, now. This resolution is crucial to provide US support to Oromos, Tigrayans, and all those in Ethiopia who continue to suffer persecution by the federal government.
For more information, please visit the congress website >>
You can help us continue to do this important work by donating below. Or click here to learn more about OLLAA
[give_form id=”12052″]
Senate Resolution 97: What Does It Mean for Oromos? | OLLAA Publication
On Wednesday, March 24, the US Senate advanced its Resolution 97 (S. Res. 97) for consideration by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ethiopian diplomats celebrated the bill’s advancement, hopeful that the US will at last provide key support to the nation’s embattled population suffering from conflict and human rights abuses by the Ethiopian government.
But what does this mean for Oromos?
What is S. Res. 97?
S. Res. 97 was first drafted as a US response to the current war in Tigray. The bill calls upon “the Ethiopian government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, and other belligerents to cease all hostilities, protect human rights, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and cooperate with independent investigations” into atrocities committed in the country. If passed, the resolution would formally establish the US’ position on the Tigrayan conflict and create increased political space for the Biden administration to intervene in Ethiopia.
How Could S. Res. 97 Help Oromos?
While the bill was drafted with a focus on the Tigrayan conflict, S. Res. 97 would also achieve significant victories for Oromos across Ethiopia.
S. Res. 97 would formally recognize the increase in violence and human rights atrocities in Oromia and other regions of Ethiopia, citing documentation of human rights abuses by Amnesty International. This documentation includes Amnesty’s 2020 report, Beyond Law Enforcement, which reveals the extent of government atrocities against the Oromo population, specifically.
The resolution would acknowledge the Ethiopian government’s wrongful imprisonment of political opposition leaders, like Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba, and highlights the government’s restriction on free political expression, media activity, and fair legal proceedings for Oromos and other groups.
Crucially, S. Res. 97 would call upon Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to release all political prisoners and establish a national dialogue between the federal government and all political and ethnic groups—including Oromos. This dialogue would allow Oromos to register their grievances with the government and actively shape a more democratic, peaceful Ethiopia.
What Will Happen Next?
As of March 25, S. Res. 97 is not yet law. The bill must pass through three stages of Senate votes before it can be ratified, or made official. This week, S. Res. 97 successfully passed through stage two. The next step is for the Senate at large to vote on the bill, and there is no guarantee that S. Res. 97 will advance through this final stage.
Call your senators and tell them to advance S. Res. 97 to a floor vote, now. This resolution is crucial to provide US support to Oromos, Tigrayans, and all those in Ethiopia who continue to suffer persecution by the federal government.
For more information, please visit the congress website >>
You can help us continue to do this important work by donating below. Or click here to learn more about OLLAA
[give_form id=”12052″]