By Pam Chuol Joack,
Gambella Vision Reporter
Ethiopia’s media landscape is facing a severe crackdown as the country approaches national elections in
Ethiopia Press Freedom Under Threat
2026. Journalists are experiencing a “climate of fear,” marked by arrests, raids, and terrorism charges that threaten press freedom.
Recent events highlight this troubling trend. Last month, three staff members from Addis Standard were detained for hours during a police raid on their offices, where authorities confiscatedlaptops and mobile phones.
The reasons for these detentions remain unclear. In another incident in April, a journalist from The Reporter was arrested while covering the grievances of former soldiers dismissed without compensation, further unsettling media workers across the country.
Compounding these challenges, lawmakers have enacted a legislative amendment that tightens government control over media regulation, shifting oversight to the prime minister’s office and undermining the independence of the media authority.
Journalists, speaking anonymously for safety, have described an increasingly oppressive atmosphere. One journalist, known as “Tesfa,” remarked that the situation is “more dire than ever,” while others reported deleting apps and messages to protect their private communications.
On World Press Freedom Day, 14 diplomatic missions, including those from the UK, France, and Belgium, issued a joint statement condemning the “significant pressure” on freedom of expression in Ethiopia.
