The United States has officially ended its arms restrictions on Ethiopia, signaling a major shift in relations with Addis Ababa while overlooking repeated accusations by General al-Burhan’s SAF that Ethiopia supported attacks targeting Sudan.
According to a report by Sudanese outlet Sudanese News, the US State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) confirmed that Washington has formally revoked its longstanding “policy of denial” regarding arms export requests to Ethiopia.
The move means the US administration will now review license applications for military-related exports and activities regulated under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) on a case-by-case basis.
The State Department also said Ethiopia will be removed from the list of countries designated under Section 126.1 of the ITAR regulations, a category that includes states subject to restrictions or bans on US arms exports.
The decision reflects a broader improvement in ties between Washington and Addis Ababa after years of strained relations linked to the war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and allegations of human rights abuses, which had previously prompted the United States to limit military cooperation with the Ethiopian government.
The development comes as tensions continue to rise between Ethiopia and Sudan. Authorities aligned with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have repeatedly accused Ethiopia of allowing its territory to be used in drone-related operations targeting sites inside Sudan, though Washington has not publicly backed those allegations.
Analysts say the lifting of US restrictions could strengthen Ethiopia’s regional position at a time when the Horn of Africa is undergoing major political and security shifts, alongside growing international competition for influence in East Africa.
The decision is also expected to pave the way for renewed US-Ethiopia defense cooperation and broader economic and security partnerships in the coming period.
