It is unclear who is behind this vicious attack. However, some local journalists expressed concern that it may have come in reprisal for his work for Ethiop, which publishes a regular column discussing internal struggles in Your Excellency's Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), one of four parties in Ethiopia's ruling coalition.

As an independent organization of journalists dedicated to the defense of our colleagues worldwide, CPJ urges Your Excellency to ensure that a thorough, independent investigation into this attack is conducted to determine who is responsible and the reasons for the assault. We also ask that you make public all findings from the investigation. Such action would send a reassuring signal to Ethiopia's badly shaken press. Meanwhile, we will continue monitoring this case.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We await your response.


Sincerely,

Ann Cooper
Executive Director