Ethiopian government suffocates press freedom, detains 7 journalists in one months

Ethiopia’s government has been criticized for its increasing hostility towards the press, with at least seven journalists arrested in the last month.

Diaspora Digital Media gathered that Ahmed Awga, founder of Jigjiga Television Network, has been in prison for over three weeks for interviewing a man who claimed his 16-year-old son died after being beaten by police.

The journalist was arrested on April 23 and appeared in court on incitement charges on April 25.

He was remanded in custody pending investigations.

The interviewee, Abdikarim Ali Ahmed, alleged that a police officer kicked his son’s head, leading to his death. Regional police commander Abdi Ali Siyad told the press that the boy simply died, and there was no one to be held accountable.

The Ethiopian government recently passed an amendment to the 2021 media law, increasing government control over the regulatory Ethiopian Media Authority.

The amendment has been widely criticized by press and human rights groups, warning that it “opens the door to undue influence” from politicians.

The new law allows the prime minister to nominate the director general of the media authority, and removes a ban on board members being members of a political party.

CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo said, “Ethiopia‘s hostility to the press has been evident in the frequent arrests of critical journalists, and now the country is well on its way to reversing the gains it made in passing its 2021 media law, once considered progressive.”

Mumo added that authorities should release journalists detained for their work and amend or repeal laws that can be used to undermine press freedom.

Other journalists arrested in April include Muhyidin Abdullahi Omar, an editor at Harari Mass Media Agency, who was charged with defamation and disseminating disinformation in connection with two Facebook posts.

Fanuel Kinfu, founder of Fentale Media, was taken from his home in Addis Ababa and questioned over alleged defamation in relation to commentary videos. Abebe Fikir, a reporter with The Reporter, was arrested and later released on bail.

Ethiopia is sub-Saharan Africa’s second-worst jailer of journalists, after Eritrea, according to CPJ’s latest annual prison census.

The country has a history of restricting press freedom, and the recent amendment to the media law is seen as a further erosion of press rights.

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