WASHINGTON-Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding a stampede at a religious festival in Ethiopia.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in Bishoftu during an annual thanksgiving gathering. Ethiopian security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse anti-government protesters, the latest in a string of troubling actions that has undermined civil liberties and repressed protests in the Oromia and Amhara regions. This is why I cosponsored legislation to support respect for human rights and inclusive governance in Ethiopia. Moving forward, I urge both the government and anti-government protesters to refrain from violence and engage in dialogue to deescalate what threatens to become a larger political crisis for the country.".
