Imposing Sanctions on Certain Persons With Respect to the Humanitarian and Human Rights Crisis in Ethiopia

The order declares a national emergency in response to the crisis in northern Ethiopia — marked by widespread violence, ethnic atrocities, gender-based violence, and obstruction of humanitarian operations — and invokes IEEPA to create a sanctions regime. It authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to impose sanctions on foreign persons determined to be responsible for or complicit in destabilizing actions, human rights abuses, obstruction of humanitarian aid, attacks on civilians or aid workers, or undermining Ethiopia's democratic processes or territorial integrity. Covered actors include military forces, government entities, political parties, regional governments, senior officials, and their spouses and adult children. Available sanctions tools include blocking U.S.-held assets, prohibiting U.S. investments, denying loans from U.S. financial institutions, restricting foreign exchange transactions, denying export licenses, and banning entry into the United States.

The order explicitly preserves the ability of humanitarian assistance and personal remittances to flow to Ethiopia through legitimate channels, and it does not block entities solely because they are partially owned by a sanctioned person. No prior notice to targeted persons is required before sanctions are imposed. All executive departments and agencies are directed to take appropriate measures to implement the order.

Foreign persons — including Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials, military commanders, political party leaders, regional government actors, and affiliated entities — determined to have contributed to the northern Ethiopia crisis. U.S. banks, investors, and businesses are also directly bound, as they are prohibited from transacting with any designated person.

Designated individuals and entities lose access to U.S. financial markets, U.S.-held assets are frozen, and affected persons are barred from entering the United States. U.S. financial institutions and companies must screen against the sanctions list; violations of IEEPA can carry substantial civil and criminal penalties.

Treasury identifies sanctionable persons in consultation with State and selects from a menu of tools ranging from full asset blocks to narrower credit or investment bans. No advance notice to targets is required, given the risk of instantaneous asset transfer. Treasury may promulgate rules and redelegate functions within the department. An explicit humanitarian carve-out protects aid organizations, international bodies, and remittance flows. Treasury must file recurring and final reports with Congress under the NEA and IEEPA, providing ongoing congressional oversight of the declared emergency.