,,iv #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #aahc ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #i1 #bjbj,ms4 ,bass 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey1 ,mr4 ,wilson of ,south ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 and ,mr4 ,wright7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,supporting respect for human rights and encouraging continued democratic progress in ,ethiopia1 and for other purposes4 ,whereas the ,federal ,democratic ,republic of ,ethiopia has been a key ally of the ,united ,states and an important economic and security partner1 as well as a major troop contributor to international peacekeeping2 ,whereas1 in ,january #bjah1 the ruling ,ethiopian ,people's ,revolutionary ,democratic ,front declared that it would pursue reforms in response to intensifying antigovernment protests that began in late #bjae2 ,whereas ,prime ,minister ,abiy ,ahmed spearheaded significant and commendable reform measures following his selection in ,april #bjah1 including releasing thousands of political prisoners1 inviting exiled political opposition back to ,ethiopia1 negotiating a peace agreement with ,eritrea1 lifting bans on over #bjj websites and improving media freedom1 closing the notorious ,maikelawi prison1 repealing the draconian ,charities and ,societies ,proclamation and the ,antiterrorism ,proclamation1 appointing a gender-balanced cabinet1 reforming electoral laws and the ,national ,electoral ,board of ,ethiopia1 taking steps to privatize the economy1 and promoting private sector investment2 ,whereas key challenges1 including recurring ethnic and intercommunal clashes and increasingly polarized political views that have spurred violence1 threaten to impede ,ethiopia's democratic progress2 ,whereas ethnic1 intercommunal1 and intracommunal violence since #bjag caused the death of hundreds and displaced more than #c1jjj1jjj ,ethiopians1 including over a million people displaced by conflict and violence in #bjai alone1 according to the ,internal ,displacement ,monitoring ,center2 ,whereas the ,,covid-#ai pandemic led the ,government of ,ethiopia to declare a state of emergency and indefinitely postpone elections originally scheduled for ,august #bjbj2 ,whereas the killing of prominent ,oromo musician ,haacaaluu ,hundeessaa on ,june #bi1 #bjbj1 sparked more than a week of violence and arrests1 contributing to growing concerns about instability2 ,whereas ethnic and religious minorities were targeted in violent attacks1 and homes1 businesses1 and religious institutions were looted or destroyed2 ,whereas hundreds of people have been killed in the recent ethnic violence and unrest1 some of them by ,ethiopian security forces2 ,whereas ,ethiopian security forces have arrested more than #g1jjj people since the unrest began1 including several journalists and prominent opposition politicians1 and their continued detention has spurred further protests and violence2 ,whereas the ,government of ,ethiopia has employed tactics1 such as mass arrests1 internet shutdowns1 and prolonged detention without charge1 that echo practices used before the opening of political space in #bjah1 threatening the democratic progress made over the last #b years2 ,whereas polarizing narratives and threats of violence endorsed by some members of the opposition and parts of the diaspora also jeopardize ,ethiopia's transition to democracy by raising tensions and increasing the prospects for interethnic and interreligious violence2 ,whereas dialogue among the ruling and opposition parties on elections and the democratic transition appears to have stalled2 ,whereas transitional justice processes and mechanisms can help address legitimate grievances1 and strengthen security1 development1 reconciliation1 and good governance2 ,whereas the ,grand ,ethiopian ,renaissance ,dam 7,,gerd7 is nearing completion1 and is expected to significantly increase ,ethiopia's electricity generation capacity and generate billions of dollars from energy exports2 ,whereas negotiations surrounding ,nile ,river water rights have a long1 complex history involving regional and domestic considerations by ,egypt1 ,ethiopia1 and ,sudan2 and ,whereas a mutually acceptable agreement is critical for future regional stability and economic growth3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 stands by the people of ,ethiopia and supports their peaceful efforts to advance democratic reforms and to exercise the rights guaranteed by the ,constitution of ,ethiopia2 7#b7 strongly supports the historic reform measures undertaken by ,prime ,minister ,abiy ,ahmed since #bjah1 including efforts to promote human rights1 privatize the economy1 repeal restrictions on freedoms of expression1 organize the first ever multi-party ,presidential elections1 and resolve regional conflicts2 7#c7 condemns-- 7,a7 the targeted violence and destruction of property directed against ethnic and religious minorities2 7,b7 the excessive use of force by ,ethiopian security forces against peaceful protesters2 7,c7 the arrest and detention of journalists and peaceful protesters who exercised their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and expression2 and 7,d7 hate speech and disinformation that fuel ethnic and political violence1 propagated by individuals and organized groups based in ,ethiopia and in the diaspora2 7#d7 urges protesters in ,ethiopia to refrain from violence and to refrain from incitement or acceptance of violence in demonstrations2 7#e7 urges all political1 religious1 and community leaders to call for calm and encourage their supporters to reject violence2 7#f7 urges all armed factions to cease their conflict with the ,government of ,ethiopia and engage in peaceful negotiations directly or through intermediaries2 7#g7 welcomes efforts by reformed national institutions such as the ,ethiopian ,human ,rights ,commission to foster respect for human rights and the rule of law2 7#h7 calls on the ,government of ,ethiopia to-- 7,a7 conduct full1 credible1 and transparent investigations into the killings that took place in ,oromia1 ,addis ,ababa1 and the ,southern ,nations1 ,nationalities1 and ,people's ,region amid the recent protests and unrest1 including an investigation into the assassination of ,haacaaluu ,hundeessaa2 7,b7 take immediate steps to prevent the use of excessive force by security forces and ensure accountability for security forces found responsible2 7,c7 demonstrate respect for due process and ensure fair1 transparent1 and expeditious trials of journalists1 activists1 and opposition politicians arrested during the recent unrest2 7,d7 respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and guarantee the freedom of the press and mass media1 in keeping with ,articles #bi and #cj of the ,constitution of ,ethiopia2 7,e7 resume dialogue with opposition parties on outstanding issues regarding democratic transformation1 including determining a timeline for national elections2 and 7,f7 consider employing transitional justice approaches1 mechanisms1 and measures to address grievances in order to contribute to a democratic1 peaceful1 and prosperous future for ,ethiopia2 7#i7 calls on the ,united ,states ,government to-- 7,a7 play a more active and vocal role in encouraging and supporting an inclusive1 intra-,ethiopian dialogue on democratic reforms1 elections1 ethnic violence1 and accountability for serious human rights abuses2 7,b7 immediately allow all obligated and planned bilateral foreign assistance to ,ethiopia to continue1 including critical funding for global health security1 civil society and election preparedness1 economic growth1 food security1 and counterterrorism2 and 7,c7 consider application of existing ,united ,states sanctions authority1 including as provided for in the ,global ,magnitsky ,human ,rights ,accountability ,act1 for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights2 7#aj7 supports the ,african ,union-led ,,gerd negotiations among ,egypt1 ,ethiopia1 and ,sudan1 and support an equitable outcome fair to all parties2 and 7#aa7 supports increased ,united ,states private sector investment in ,ethiopia1 including in key sectors such as telecommunications1 energy1 and agriculture1 and encourages continued efforts to spur economic growth and privatize the economy4