Ethiopian National Defense Force soldiers train on Sept. 15. Photo: Amanuel Sileshi/AFP via Getty Images
Ethiopia declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as rival forces from the northern region of Tigray move toward the capital, per AP.
Why it matters: It's the latest escalation of a yearlong civil war that threatens to tear apart Africa's second-most populous country and has killed thousands of citizens.
- The state of emergency is effective immediately and is slated to last about six months, according to AP.
- Under the state of emergency, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed can impose curfews, order citizens into military service and restrict the news media.
The big picture: President Biden announced on Tuesday that Ethiopia would be terminated from a U.S. trade program, saying that the war-torn country was in "gross violations of internationally recognized human rights."
- The sanction is set to take effect on Jan. 1, and a pathway toward reinstatement will be provided to each country removed from the program.