Ethiopia / Africa

New York, May 24, 2022 – Ethiopian authorities should immediately release all recently arrested journalists and media workers and ensure that authorities cease harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Authorities have arrested at least 11 journalists and media workers since May 19 in Amhara state and the capital Addis…

Nairobi, May 16, 2022–The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned Ethiopia’s expulsion of Economist correspondent Tom Gardner, following the revocation of his press accreditation on Friday, May 13. Gardner’s expulsion came almost a year after Ethiopian authorities similarly expelled New York Times reporter Simon Marks and within the context of a deteriorating press freedom…

Nairobi, May 12, 2022 — Ethiopian authorities must thoroughly investigate the detention of journalist Gobeze Sisay and ensure that members of the press are not held for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. At about 10 a.m. on May 1, a group of eight armed men in plainclothes stormed Gobeze’s residence in…

Nairobi, May 2, 2022 – Ethiopian authorities should immediately release journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu, drop all charges against them, and stop targeting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On April 7, authorities in the Ethiopian region of Oromia charged Dessu and Bikila, both journalists with the social media-based…

Nairobi, April 6, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed the release of Ethiopian journalist Temerat Negara on bail on Wednesday, April 6, and called for any remaining investigation into his work to be dropped immediately. “It is great news that Ethiopian journalist Temerat Negara is out of prison, but it is a grave…

Nairobi, April 1, 2022 — In response to the release of Ethiopian freelance journalists Amir Aman Kiyaro and Thomas Engida from detention on Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming their release: “It is a great relief that Ethiopian journalists Amir Aman Kiyaro and Thomas Engida are home with their families,…

Nairobi, February 18, 2022— Ethiopian authorities should drop any plans to charge two journalists, Amir Aman Kiyaro and Thomas Engida, with terrorism, stop a fresh investigation they are pursuing against editor Temerat Negara, and end the practice of punitively detaining journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.  Amir, a freelancer who contributes to The…

Nairobi, December 23, 2021— Ethiopian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Ermias Tasfaye and all other members of the press detained for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ermias’ November arrest was made public in a statement by his employer on December 14 and follows the Ethiopian government’s crackdown on journalists…

Nairobi, December 16, 2021 – Ethiopian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all journalists held in custody for their work and should refrain from using the country’s state of emergency law to imprison members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ethiopian authorities have arrested at least 14 journalists since declaring a…

The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record in 2021. Invoking new tech and security laws, repressive regimes from Asia to Europe to Africa cracked down harshly on the independent press. A CPJ special report by Editorial Director Arlene Getz. Published December 9, 2021 NEW YORK It’s been an especially bleak year…