Seven Ethiopian Journalists Detained on Terrorism Charges Following Broadcast of Rape Allegation

ADDIS ABABA, 10 April 2025 (BSS/AFP) – At least seven journalists in Ethiopia have been arrested on terrorism-related charges following the airing of a broadcast in which a woman accused individuals in military uniform of raping her in 2020. The incident has raised fresh concerns over press freedom in a country frequently criticised for its treatment of dissenting voices.

Controversial Broadcast and Arrests

The Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS) aired a programme in late March 2025 featuring a woman who alleged she had been abducted and raped by men in military uniform while she was a university student in 2020. However, the woman later retracted her claims on a state-run television channel.

Following the broadcast, seven journalists and the woman herself were detained, with court documents indicating they are under investigation for:

Inciting conflict

Threatening the constitutional order

Attempting to overthrow the government

Alleged coordination with ‘extremist’ groups in the Amhara region

They are being held for a 14-day investigative remand, as police continue their inquiry.

EBS founder issued a public apology, claiming the station had learned that “the allegations were fabricated” only after the episode was aired.

Press Freedom Concerns

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the arrests. Muthoki Mumo, CPJ’s Africa programme coordinator, stated:

“Arresting journalists on terrorism allegations is a disproportionate response to concerns over lapses in journalistic ethics.”

Ethiopia is ranked 141st out of 180 countries on the 2024 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, which noted widespread self-censorship, a reflection of the risks associated with critical or investigative journalism in the country.

Background: Ethiopia’s Media and Regional Unrest

With a population of around 130 million, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most populous nations. Yet, its media environment remains precarious, often under pressure from both federal and regional authorities.

The arrests come amid intensifying violence in the Amhara region, Ethiopia’s second-most populous area. The Fano militia, once aligned with the federal government, turned against it in 2023 and launched an armed insurgency. Despite the government declaring a state of emergency in Amhara from August 2023 to June 2024, conflict has persisted.

Broader Implications

The incident underscores the ongoing clampdown on press freedom in Ethiopia, where journalists and media outlets are frequently subjected to surveillance, arrest, and intimidation, particularly when reporting on conflict zones or sensitive political issues.

Observers fear that the use of anti-terrorism laws against journalists may further erode freedom of expression and restrict public access to critical information during a period of national instability.