Chairman Smith on the hearing: “Ethiopia is a vital American ally in Africa, but its human rights and democracy policies fall short of the basic rights that Ethiopians deserve. Our hearing will look at the policies of the current Ethiopian government in hopes that it will better accommodate political opposition and civil society, and respect the rights of all Ethiopians.  We also need to consider how the U.S. Government can support ways to improve the rights—and lives—of the Ethiopian people.”

Witnesses

Panel I

The Honorable Donald Y. Yamamoto
Acting Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of African Affairs
U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Earl W. Gast
Assistant Administrator
Bureau for Africa
U.S. Agency for International Development

Panel II

Berhanu Nega, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Economics
Bucknell University

J. Peter Pham, Ph.D.
Director
Michael S. Ansari Africa Center
Atlantic Council

Mr. Obang Metho
Executive Director
Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia

Mr. Adotei Akwei
Managing Director for Government Relations
Amnesty International USA