Ethiopia’s Growing Assault on Independent Media
Ethiopian authorities have intensified their crackdown on independent media, including the detention of the Addis Standard editor and the raiding of their offices. These actions are part of a broader trend of silencing critical reporting through legal threats and harassment.
Why it matters
The erosion of media freedom in Ethiopia raises significant concerns regarding human rights, democratic processes, and the ability of the public to access independent information.
Addis Standard Editor Detained, Newsroom Raided
Ethiopian authorities are intensifying their assault on media freedom in the country.
On August 1, unidentified security personnel detained Yonas Kedir, the editor-in-chief of Addis Standard, and questioned him for 24 hours about the independent news outlet’s reporting before releasing him, according to a statement by the outlet. The following day, security and intelligence officials raided the outlet’s offices, damaging and confiscating equipment.
Addis Standard has been through this before. Four months ago, men in plainclothes seized the outlet’s managing editor, Million Beyene , and held him incommunicado for nearly two weeks before releasing him without charge. The authorities have yet to publicly explain his detention.
In February, the government’s media regulatory body, the Ethiopian Media Authority, revoked Addis Standard’s operating license for alleged repeated violations of the media laws. The outlet is challenging the decision in court.
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