• HRW reports surge in arrests, harassment of Ethiopian journalists
• New laws expand state control over media licensing, sanctions
• Ethiopia drops to 145th in RSF press freedom ranking

Hopes for a free press in Ethiopia are diminishing following a surge in arbitrary arrests and detentions, according to a report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) released on Monday, September 22. HRW documented multiple cases of harassment against journalists since August.

"The Ethiopian authorities’ renewed efforts to muzzle independent reporting are all about preventing public scrutiny of the government," said Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch.

Recent examples include the September 3 arrest of three employees from the private station Sheger FM after they aired a report deemed biased on a healthcare workers' strike. Though a court ordered their release on bail, police appealed the ruling, seeking to prolong their detention.

Earlier, on August 13, Yonas Amare, editor-in-chief of The Reporter newspaper, was abducted from his home by masked men, some in military uniforms. His fate remained unknown for eight days as authorities refused to confirm or deny his detention. Two days prior, radio host Abdulsemed Mohammed also vanished before later being released. In June, renowned investigative journalist Tesfalem Woldeyes was arrested and accused of "disseminating false information."

Legislative Crackdown Follows Conflict

These arrests coincide with an increasingly restrictive legal framework, set against the backdrop of the fallout from the Tigray war and preparations for the 2026 elections. This past April, Parliament adopted amendments to the 2021 media law that grant the Director General of the Media Authority, appointed directly by Nobel Peace Prize winner Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, increased power over licenses and sanctions.

For many observers, these laws have become political weapons. Muthoki Mumo, of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), explained that "Authorities often invoke anti-terror and hate speech laws, as well as state-of-emergency provisions, to suppress critical reporting and to hold journalists behind bars on vague allegations and charges, amid seemingly indefinite investigations."

Tsedale Lemma, founder of the independent media outlet Addis Standard, said security services are systematically violating the legal protections of media professionals.

"We’re nowhere close to protecting the media from this coordinated assault the government is waging against it. [...] The mass defamation of journalists or the delegitimisation of their work," Lemma said.

In the latest Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranking, Ethiopia dropped from 141st to 145th place, placing it in the category of countries where the press situation is considered "very serious."

With the 2026 general elections approaching, the need for a free and impartial press is critical. However, the current repression is forcing journalists to operate in a climate of fear and self-censorship.

Servan Ahougnon