Addis Abeba — Senior U.S. officials met on Monday with Ethiopia's Minister of Defense, Aisha Mohammed, to discuss the ongoing militarized conflicts in Ethiopia's Amhara and Oromia regions, as well as efforts to advance Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) in Tigray, according to a report from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Abeba. The U.S. delegation included Ambassador Ervin Massinga, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Joshua Spera, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Maurine Farrell, Major General Todd Cashman, and Director Michael Tomaszewicz. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs, Maurine Farrel, reiterated the United States' strong interest in enhancing military cooperation with Ethiopia, particularly in the areas of security and peace-building. Previously, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about the escalating violence in Ethiopia's Amhara region and underscored the importance of political dialogue during a phone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Amhara region has experienced over 14 months of severe militarized conflict between government forces and non-state Fano militias.
