US President Donald Trump has extended the national emergency relating to Ethiopia, which was first declared by his predecessor Joe Biden under Executive Order 14046.
In a statement on 8 September, the White House said the measure would remain in place beyond 17 September 2025, citing “activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Ethiopia and the greater Horn of Africa region.”
‘The situation in and around northern Ethiopia—marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, and stability of both Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa—continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” it added.
Mr Biden first signed the order in September 2021, imposing sanctions on individuals and groups linked to the conflict in Ethiopia. The order has been renewed annually since then.
This is an indication for Ethiopians: while Americans may have deep political differences on their own domestic affairs, when it comes to Africa—and Ethiopia in particular—they share the same perspective. Both Trump and Biden hold Ethiopia in equally low regard.
Everything they give us they can stop. The problem is they don’t leave us alone. We will find them cooking our food/poison.
Some Ethiopians believe that the Democratic Party has been influencing the country through U.S. aid programs, such as USAID. According to them, these programs are not purely developmental but also promote social agendas, including support for LGBTQ+ issues. From this perspective, they argue that Trump’s approach is more favorable for Ethiopia, as they perceive him as less focused on imposing such social policies.
However, the reality is that Ethiopia, being a poor country, relies heavily on aid, including essential supplies such as wheat provided by USAID. Regardless of political differences, this assistance plays a critical role in addressing basic needs and sustaining the population. At the same time, Trump’s policies have not necessarily shown concern for the country or its most vulnerable people, highlighting a gap between ideological preference and practical support.
A Hopeful Outlook
This morning’s news leaves me hopeful.
Hopeful that Ethiopia’s peace process will continue to gain ground.
Hopeful that the international community will not turn away too soon.
Hopeful that this renewed focus will guard the hard-earned progress and deter backsliding.
As I always read international and national news for the sake of my organizations or project’s media monitoring, this morning the trend went beyond that. It gave me a great sense of ease, a rare sigh of relief.
Scrolling through headlines and updates, I stumbled upon a piece of news that felt like fresh air in a tense room: President Donald Trump has renewed the Ethiopia-related national emergency. ( https://www.addisinsight.net/2025/09/12/trump-administration-renews-ethiopia-related-national-emergency/)
For me, it is a message of assurance that Washington is still paying attention, still concerned, and still committed to seeing Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa move toward peace and stability.
The renewal, under Executive Order 14046, means the U.S. is keeping its sanctions mechanism ready, a tool to hold accountable those who might attempt to drag Ethiopia back into chaos or block humanitarian lifelines.
I’ve watched, read, and analyzed Ethiopia’s crisis for years. I’ve seen how the war-scarred communities in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar.
To know that this decision came, reaffirming that the situation still matters at the highest levels of global diplomacy, felt like a quiet nod to everyone who cares about the Horn of Africa.
In an age of fast-shifting political priorities, this decision reflects a rare consistency. Whatever one’s politics, I find it inspiring that the administration did not choose the easier path of simply letting the order expire.
Instead, it chose vigilance over complacency. It chose to stand guard over a fragile peace.
For us at NGOs, this is more than an international headline. It is a call to stay engaged, stay ready, and stay committed to the work we do every day.
This decision means the world is still watching. It means there is still a global appetite to see Ethiopia succeed. And it means we, as INGO staff and partners, have a responsibility:
• To keep telling the stories of recovery, so the world sees the human impact of peace and humanitarian action.
• To strengthen our field presence and accountability, ensuring aid reaches those who need it most, without delay.
• To advocate for the voiceless, especially the most vulnerable groups, reminding decision-makers why this work must continue.
• To innovate and collaborate, turning this renewed international attention into real progress for the communities we serve.