At least seven journalists have been arrested on terrorism charges after airing a report alleging that men in military uniforms raped a woman in 2020, according to an international journalism monitor.
Ethiopia, home to approximately 130 million people, is often criticized by human rights groups for suppressing dissent.
The country ranks 141st out of 180 countries on the 2024 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index, reflecting widespread self-censorship.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported on Wednesday that the journalists were arrested in late March following the broadcast of a woman’s claim that she had been abducted and raped by men in military uniform while a student in 2020. The woman later retracted her statement on a state-run channel.
The founder of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS) issued an apology, stating that the station “discovered that the allegations were fabricated after the program aired,” as reported by CPJ.
Court documents reviewed by CPJ indicate that police are accusing the journalists of attempting to incite conflict, undermine the constitutional order, and collaborate with “extremist” groups in the Amhara region.
The journalists and the woman who made the allegations are currently in custody pending a 14-day investigation.
“Charging journalists with terrorism for concerns over journalistic ethics is an extreme response,” said Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa Program Coordinator.
Amhara, Ethiopia’s second-most populous region, has seen a rise in violence. In April 2023, the local group Fano transitioned from being federal government allies to launching an armed rebellion.
Despite a state of emergency imposed by the government from August 2023 to June 2024, unrest has continued, prompting military reinforcements in September.
Today, a significant portion of Amhara is beyond the control of federal authorities, with fighting intensifying in recent weeks.
AFP
