From: Oromo community and civic groups in United States
December 08, 2022
President Joseph R. Biden, The White House
Dear President Biden,
We, the undersigned, are Oromo community and civic groups organized in the United States, with strong connections to the Oromo people, who constitute over 40% of Ethiopia's population — approximately 46 million people, roughly the size of the population of Ukraine.
We write to register our distress and strong objection to the invitation of the Ethiopian Prime Minister and his representatives to participate in the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, December 13–15, 2022.
There is clear evidence mounting in Oromia of escalating violence against civilians in the west, center, and south of the country. Three types of full-scale assault have been launched in central and western Ethiopia and are escalating:
- Drones: Airstrikes have killed civilians in towns, marketplaces, and near schools, including over 80 people in Wara Jarso district and dozens more in West Wollega.
- Fano paramilitary operations: Militia attacks against Oromo civilians have led to hundreds of deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced, including an attack on worshipers at a church in East Wollega.
- Military artillery bombardment: Heavy artillery has targeted schools and town structures serving the community.
These acts need to be documented by neutral parties. We call upon the US to establish and fund an Ethiopia justice and accountability capacity to investigate incidents of atrocity and crime carried out throughout Ethiopia.
We appeal to you to send a strong message by disinviting the Ethiopian Government from the upcoming U.S.-Africa Summit. This will signal that the US requires access to all regions of Ethiopia as a condition of future assistance, support, and partnership.
With regards, Oromo Community Organization – DMV, and 30+ co-signing Oromo community and civic organizations across the United States.
