Ethiopia: Report Finds 43 Journalists Arrested, Imprisoned, or Kidnapped in Ethiopia in 2024 Amid Rising Threats to Press Freedom

**Addis Abeba** - In 2024, at least 43 journalists in Ethiopia were arrested, imprisoned, or kidnapped. This information comes from the Journalists' Safety Assessment Report by International Media Support (IMS). The report states that journalist safety is "increasingly threatened." Journalists face intimidation, detention, and harassment from both state and non-state actors.

The assessment included interviews with 60 journalists and documented cases. It found that those in conflict-affected areas faced particular risks. This is especially true in Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz. Armed groups have arbitrarily detained journalists and confiscated their equipment. They also kidnap journalists for ransom or to control media narratives about conflicts.

According to IMS, three journalists experienced enforced disappearance in 2024. Two of them remain missing as of the report's release. One case involved a cameraperson from Benishangul-Gumuz who was abducted while traveling back home with his wife. Armed groups stopped their bus and singled him out for kidnapping.

In Amhara, ongoing conflict between government forces and the Fano militia has intensified since 2023. Journalists there have faced detention and accusations of "aiding illegal forces" or spreading "false information." The report documents nine cases of arbitrary detention during the extended state of emergency in Amhara.

A journalist who spoke anonymously shared their experience: "My camera crew and I went to the Amhara region using an office vehicle." They were kidnapped by armed groups for two weeks. Their captors told them to leave without returning their cameras or vehicle.

The report also mentions cases where journalists were taken to military camps for days by government security personnel. By the end of 2024, none of the attackers against journalists had been tried in court.

Previous reports show a steady decline in press freedom in Ethiopia. In its 2024 Global Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Ethiopia 141st out of 180 countries—a ten-point drop from 2023. RSF noted that inter-ethnic conflict has reversed many recent gains in press freedom.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) ranks Ethiopia among the worst jailers of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa—third after Eritrea and Egypt. Its 2024 prison census recorded six detained journalists; five face terrorism charges. CPJ highlighted that authorities often use vague charges related to terrorism or extremism against journalists.

IMS notes that legal measures intended for national security are increasingly used against reporters. Seven journalists faced court under various laws including the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and Hate Speech Prevention Act.

Concerns arise over proposed amendments to Ethiopia's Media Proclamation No. 1238/2021. These changes could repeal key clauses that empower parliament regarding media authority appointments. Civil society organizations warn this would concentrate power within the executive branch.

The report also highlights gender-specific threats faced by female journalists. Women experience gender-based violence manifested through online death threats, sexual assault, and character assassination attempts. Some women are denied promotions due to pregnancy or subjected to online harassment campaigns.

Economic struggles have worsened conditions for all journalists as well. Layoffs, delayed salaries, and limited access to official information affect media workers nationwide. Financial pressures strain their ability to work professionally during this period; private media employees earn less than those in state media according to IMS.