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The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has voiced serious concern over the recent abduction and detention of media professionals in Ethiopia, underscoring a deteriorating climate for press freedom in the country.
In a statement issued Wednesday, CPJ reported the abduction of newspaper editor Yonas Amare by masked individuals in military attire, and the arrests of journalist Khadar Mohamed Ismael and radio host Abdulsemed Mohammed. While Ismael was detained by authorities in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, Mohammed’s whereabouts remain unknown.
CPJ Africa program coordinator Muthoki Mumo urged Ethiopian authorities to investigate Amare’s abduction, release the detained journalists, and uphold press freedom protections. “Ethiopia is increasingly becoming a hostile environment for journalists,” Mumo stated.
These incidents reflect a broader pattern of repression. Between 2019 and 2024, CPJ documented the detention of at least 92 media workers, often under accusations of rebel affiliations or emergency law violations. Journalists have reportedly been held in unofficial facilities, denied legal counsel, and subjected to harsh conditions.
Despite the 2021 Media Proclamation law, which outlines formal protections for journalists, enforcement remains inconsistent. Reporters covering sensitive issues—such as regional conflicts, government policy, and human rights—face intimidation, legal threats, and forced exile. Structural challenges, including ethno-regional tensions and state influence over media, continue to stifle independent reporting and foster widespread self-censorship.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by Mahmoud Chahrour | U. Ottawa Faculty of Law, CA
