Authorities in Tigray release 3 journalists, 2 others remain in detention
Nairobi, January 17, 2023—In response to news reports that authorities in the northern Ethiopian state of Tigray recently released three employees of the broadcaster Tigrai TV but continue to hold two more in custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for the remaining staffers’ release: “While it is a great relief…
Ethiopia must release journalist Meskerem Abera after second detention this year
Nairobi, December 20, 2022 –Ethiopian police should unconditionally release online journalist Meskerem Abera and cease harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Federal police detained Meskerem, the founder and editor of private YouTube-based media outlet Ethio Nikat Media, in the capital Addis Ababa on December 13, her husband, Fitsum Gebremichael, told CPJ by phone….
Ethiopian journalist Abay Zewdu remains detained after court grants bail
Nairobi, September 20, 2022 — Authorities in Ethiopia should immediately and unconditionally release Abay Zewdu, chief editor of privately owned satellite and YouTube-based broadcaster Amara Media Center (AMC), and cease detaining journalists without charge, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. At about 1:30 p.m. on September 10, security officers in civilian clothes and…
Ethiopian authorities detain journalists Gobeze Sisay and Meaza Mohammed
Nairobi, September 12, 2022—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ethiopian journalists Gobeze Sisay and Meaza Mohammed, and urged authorities to stop arresting members of the media for their work. About 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 7, federal police officers arrested Gobeze, editor and founder of privately owned…
Ethiopian journalist Temesgen Desalegn denied bail, ordered to remain in detention
Nairobi, August 1, 2022 – Ethiopian authorities should release journalist Temesgen Desalegn immediately and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 28, Ethiopia’s federal Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision to grant bail to Temesgen, editor of the privately owned magazine Feteh, and ruled that he should…
Journalists face growing hostility as Ethiopia’s civil war persists
Ethiopia’s 21-month-old civil war is accelerating the deterioration of press freedom in the Horn of Africa nation. The conflict between the federal government and the rebel forces led by the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) has prompted a media crackdown that extinguished the glimmer of hope sparked by the initial reforms of Prime Minister Abiy…
Tigrayan authorities in Ethiopia detain 5 Tigrai TV journalists
Nairobi, July 20, 2022 – Authorities in the Ethiopian region of Tigray should immediately release five Tigrai TV journalists who were recently taken into custody for their work, as well as all other members of the press behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Regional authorities in the state of Tigray, who are…
Ethiopian journalist Abebe Bayu detained 1 day after colleague Yayesew Shimelis arrested
Nairobi, July 6, 2022 – Ethiopian authorities should unconditionally release journalist Abebe Bayu and all other members of the press held for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At about 10 p.m. on June 29, men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as security personnel arrested Abebe at his home in Addis…
Ethiopian authorities re-arrest journalist Yayesew Shimelis 1 week after release on bail
Nairobi, June 29, 2022 – In response to news reports that Ethiopian security personnel arrested journalist Yayesew Shimelis on Tuesday, June 28, and are holding him at an undisclosed location, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for his immediate release: “Yayesew Shimelis’ detention is deeply concerning, given Ethiopian authorities’ history of…
Ethiopia detains journalists Bekalu Alamrew and Meaza Mohammed in ongoing media crackdown
Nairobi, June 3, 2022– The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday called on Ethiopian authorities to unconditionally release Bekalu Alamrew and Meaza Mohammed, the latest journalists to be swept up in the country’s recent crackdown on the press. At around 4 p.m. on Friday, May 27, security officers detained Bekalu, the founder and chief editor…