Ethiopian Press Freedom Defenders

Ethiopia: IPI urges lawmakers to reject proposed media law amendments The International Press Freedom (IPI) global network today joins journalists, media bodies, and civil society organisations in Ethiopia in condemning the grave risk to media freedom posed by…

#Ethiopia 🇪🇹 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social is concerned that proposed amendments to the country’s media law will undermine media independence, weaken the Ethiopia Media Authority, and tighten government control. buff.ly/4kbAdSG @ethpressdef.bsky.social

01.03.2025 22:00 — 👍 3    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

The mystery sickness bringing death and dismay to eastern Ethiopia As villagers in Somali region fall ill in unexplained circumstances, some locals fear gas exploration has tainted the local water supply

The country has a history of regulated or unregulated mining causing environmental harm spreading toxins and illnesses that have left people dead or sick. A 2020 investigation in @theguardian.com outlined this. Local media must be allowed to operate and amplify concerns of affected communities.

25.01.2025 20:09 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

While all four have since been released, the message sent by the establishment is clear: avoid all reporting on illicit mining in Tigray. Residents in the region have complained of harm caused to the environment, cattle and humans caused by the mining. Media must be allowed to document concerns.

25.01.2025 20:01 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Logo of Tigrai TV

The Reporter

Attempts by journalists to investigate the growing illicit and illegal gold trade in Ethiopia's Tigray region, has resulted in unjust detentions of at least four of them, including the senior editor of The Reporter newspaper back in October, and three Tigray TV reporters, abducted last month....

25.01.2025 19:59 — 👍 0    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0

Unfortunately, the situation for media workers in Ethiopia's Somali region continues to worsen, as even when journalists aren't arrested, they regularly receive threats and harassment from intelligence and security officers on their phones.

#journalismisnotacrime

09.01.2025 01:04 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Kamil Ahmed Nasir preparing at work carrying a drone and preparing a camera to capture images in rural territory.

Photojournalist Kamil Ahmed Nasir has been released from custody in the Somali region. We learned that his Jan 3 arrest came as police stepped up harassment of journalists ahead of a visit to the region by PM Abiy Ahmed. He was taken away for protesting the confiscation of a colleague's equipment.

09.01.2025 01:02 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 1

Freelance journalist Kamil Ahmed Nasir in a suit and tie, speaking into a mic at an event in the city of Jijiga

Kamil Ahmed Nasir, freelance photographer, videographer based in the city of Jijiga, in Ethiopia's Somali region was detained by security forces for reasons that remain unclear. Regional Somali forces are infamous for clampdowns on the local press in recent years.

@abdulrazaq.bsky.social

03.01.2025 21:37 — 👍 5    🔁 6    💬 0    📌 0

This account will host this growing blocklist to serve media workers reporting on or who hail from the Horn of Africa. This addresses the need for protective mechanisms after years poor moderation on Twitter. Submissions and reports are encouraged.

Simply hit "subscribe" and then "block accounts."

03.01.2025 03:35 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

In Abiy's Ethiopia, 200 journalists have been arrested since 2019 | African Arguments The Nobel laureate won plaudits early on for releasing imprisoned journalists. Today, his government depicts journalists as spies and traitors, and is accused of arresting, harassing and murdering the...

Ethiopian Press Freedom Defenders is a group of Ethiopian media professionals advocating for our dying press freedoms at home. Our research from June 2024 revealed that over 200 journalists and media workers in Ethiopia have faced unjust incarceration since 2019.

We're here to be heard.

03.01.2025 02:51 — 👍 3    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 1