Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, released the following statement after Ethiopia lifted its state of emergency and accepted the terms of a peace agreement with Eritrea:

“I welcome news of Ethiopia’s acceptance of the 2000 peace agreement with Eritrea as well as parliament’s approval of a bill to end the State of Emergency. I remain cautiously optimistic that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will continue along the direction of peace and respect for human rights.  The lifting of the state of emergency means that imprisoned journalists and peaceful activists must now be freed, and greater progress must be made toward inclusive governance.  Congress will continue to monitor developments in Ethiopia with guarded optimism.”