The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has voiced significant concern over recent events in Ethiopia involving the abduction and detention of journalists, highlighting a disturbing trend in the country's treatment of the press. On Wednesday, CPJ announced its alarm over the abduction of Yonas Amare, an Ethiopian newspaper editor, and the detentions of journalist Khadar Mohamed Ismael and radio host Abdulsemed Mohammed.

Amare was reportedly taken from his home by several individuals dressed in military attire, while Ismael was arrested by authorities in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State. The circumstances surrounding Mohammed’s detention remain unclear, with his current whereabouts unknown.

Muthoki Mumo, CPJ Africa Program Coordinator, stressed the severity of the situation, stating, "Ethiopia, a country that already has a stained press freedom record, is increasingly becoming a hostile environment for journalists. Authorities must urgently investigate Yonas Amare’s abduction, hold the perpetrators accountable, and unconditionally release journalists Khadar Mohamed Ismael and Abdulsemed Mohammed."

These incidents are part of a broader pattern of repression against independent journalists in Ethiopia. Between 2019 and 2024, CPJ reported that at least 92 media workers were detained, often under allegations of connections to rebel forces or justified by state of emergency laws. Many journalists have been held in unofficial prisons or military detention camps, sometimes without judicial oversight or access to legal counsel, and often in harsh conditions.

Journalists like Tarif Andualem and Mulatu Alemayehu Moges have faced extreme measures such as detention, home raids, equipment confiscation, and threats, forcing some to flee the country. Despite the 2021 Media Proclamation law that ostensibly protects press freedom, there appears to be a significant gap between legal safeguards and their enforcement by the government.

Furthermore, the Ethiopian press landscape is plagued by entrenched structural and political challenges. Ethno-regional divisions, state influence over media outlets, and pressures on editors foster an environment rife with self-censorship. Journalists attempting to report on sensitive topics, including military operations, government policy, and human rights abuses, face both informal intimidation and the risk of formal prosecution.

The situation in Ethiopia remains a critical concern for advocates of press freedom and human rights, underscoring the need for international attention and pressure to safeguard the rights of journalists in the country.