Blinken urges Ethiopia to Consolidate Peace And sip her coffee

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday urged Ethiopia to "deepen peace" in the north of the country, which has seen two years of bloody war, and announced $331 million in aid during a visit aimed at repairing relations damaged by the conflict.

The US secretary is making his first visit to Washington's historic ally since the Tigray war, which has killed nearly 500,<> people, according to US estimates, and prompted Washington to abandon trade preferences that were granted to Africa's second-largest country based on population.

As China and Russia increasingly seek to consolidate their influence in Ethiopia and around the continent, Blinken began his visit by expressing hope for improved ties while sipping Ethiopia's famous coffee at the State Department.

"It is a very important moment, a moment of hope given the peace that has been established in the north," he said.

"Much more needs to be done. "The most important thing is probably to deepen the peace that is taking hold in the north."

Blinken later met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who wrote on Twitter that they "agreed to strengthen the historic bilateral relationship between our two countries with a commitment to partnership" during the talks, which took place away from the media spotlight.