The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the US statement "selective" and "inflammatory" saying "the partisan and divisive approach from the US is ill-advised".

It said that it was "untimely", coming shortly after Ethiopia launched a national consultation on transitional justice policy aiming to bring peace and reconciliation.

"For no apparent reason, the statement appears to exonerate one party from certain allegations of human rights violations such as rape and other forms sexual violence despite the clear and overwhelming evidence about its culpability," the ministry said.

It said the US statement would "be used to advance highly polarised campaigns pitting one community against others in the country".

On Monday, the US said it had determined that all warring parties in the brutal war in northern Ethiopia had committed war crimes.

It also accused the Ethiopian and Eritrean Defence forces as well as Amhara forces of committing crimes against humanity including murder, rape and other forms of sexual violence and persecution.