Under U.S. pressure, the UN refuses to lift an embargo against the tiny nation of Eritrea, while ignoring constant aggressions by its huge neighbour, Ethiopia. The pretexts for the sanctions “are nonexistent,” yet “Eritrea is doubly punished since the sanctions effectively mean it is restricted in defending itself.” The UN has abrogated its responsibility to uphold international law – and, instead, coddles Washington’s military ally.

A massive government crackdown on protestors and dissidents is underway in Ethiopia, but the international community has turned a blind eye to this reign of terror. The first, and possibly most far-reaching and effective, response by the international community should be to openly condemn the regime in Addis Ababa and withdraw the unwavering support for the repressive government.

Beyond the propping up of tyrannical leaders that have subjected their populations to widespread, systematic, pervasive human rights violations, the West’s longstanding infatuation with Ethiopian autocrats is extremely problematic because it has encouraged Ethiopia’s bellicosity and aggression towards its neighbours.

Within the next few weeks, the number of starving Ethiopians will balloon to 15 million. Some environmental factors are responsible for this food crisis. But the Ethiopian government has been leasing huge tracts of arable land to foreigners. And several months ago, leaked emails revealed that the Ethiopian regime, which is now making appeals for aid and external support, was paying an Italian surveillance firm to illegally monitor journalists critical of the government.

Ethiopia is a heavily aid dependent country. Its Western supporters should ask themselves why such a poor country spends millions of dollars a year trying to hack the phones of exiled journalists instead of using the money to feed hungry citizens and provide other essential services.

Unsurprisingly, international reaction to the charade that was Ethiopia’s elections has been mild, with the West instead trumpeting the country’s economic growth. Oppressed by the regime for so long and abandoned by the world, the only option for change left to Ethiopians seems to be open resistance.

With national “elections” close - periods historically marked by boycotts, corruption and vote-rigging, violence and repression – Ethiopia merits attention. It’s a country characterized by widespread torture, oppression and crackdowns on perceived dissidents.

The Ethiopian prime minister’s recent outburst against Eritrea appears to be an attempt to turn the spotlight away from his own government’s crises as it continues to face rising popular discontent against its various policies, crackdowns and interference in socio-religious affairs

Eritrea’s remarkable success in combating HIV/AIDS is founded upon a multisectoral approach that involves the targeting of harmful societal behaviors and traditions like banning child marriage and female genital cutting

With U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Ethiopia, the recent spate of harsh crackdowns in the country has raised serious questions about the U.S. and international community’s ongoing support for the Ethiopian government

Ethiopia’s much vaunted recent economic growth belies the reality on the ground. Suggestions of rapid socioeconomic transformation to a middle-income economy are likely to prove fanciful, unless urgent significant national concerns are addressed