The United States has removed sanctions imposed on Eritrea’s ruling party and military, reversing measures enacted under the previous Biden administration. The decision was announced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday.

The original sanctions were implemented in 2021 amid concerns about human rights abuses and humanitarian issues during the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. Eritrean forces had supported Ethiopian troops in fighting against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) during the war that concluded with a peace agreement in November 2022.

Among those whose sanctions were lifted is Hagos Ghebrehiwet, a senior financial official within Eritrea, as well as the Red Sea Trading Corporation, an entity associated with the country’s ruling party, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ).

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel criticized the sanctions as unjustified, asserting that they inflicted significant harm on Eritrea. The Treasury’s statement did not elaborate on the specific reasons for the removal, but the timing aligns with regional developments following the Tigray conflict’s resolution.

The sanctions had formed part of broader U.S. efforts to address accountability for alleged abuses and to pressure parties involved in the conflict to cease hostilities and engage in peace processes. The lifting of these measures marks a shift in U.S. policy toward Eritrea, emphasizing renewed diplomatic engagement as the region moves toward stability.