Thursday, August 29, 2024: Reports indicate that Ambassador Lencho Bati, who was recently appointed as Ethiopia’s ambassador to the United States, has been denied accreditation by the U.S. government. This decision comes just weeks after Ambassador Lencho was recalled from his previous post in Saudi Arabia and selected to represent Ethiopia in Washington, D.C.

According to sources, the U.S. government has requested that Ambassador Lencho return to Ethiopia, stating that they would not accept his appointment. The reason behind this decision is reportedly linked to past legal issues that Ambassador Lencho faced while living in the United States years ago. Although details of these allegations have not been disclosed, the sources suggest that the matters are part of public records in the U.S.

“The Americans have informed the Ethiopian government that they do not wish to have the ambassador serve in their country due to these past legal issues,” the sources said.

So far, there has been no official confirmation or explanation from the Ethiopian government regarding this matter.

The U.S. is known to have stringent criteria for accepting foreign ambassadors, and in several instances, they have declined to accredit diplomats from various countries.

This development adds a new layer of complexity to Ethiopia’s diplomatic relations with the U.S., particularly at a time when both countries are navigating sensitive political and economic discussions.