Yonas Kedir, the editor-in-chief of Ethiopia’s prominent independent news site Addis Standard, was allegedly abducted and assaulted by security forces last Saturday. He was reportedly held for 24 hours and subjected to “prolonged interrogation,” according to a statement from Jakken Publishing, the news site’s owner. This incident marks a significant escalation in what rights groups describe as a systematic crackdown on independent media in Ethiopia.
The alleged abduction of Mr. Kedir was part of a three-day series of actions against the Addis Standard. On the day of his abduction, two individuals in civilian clothes reportedly struck him and forcibly loaded him into a pickup truck, accusing him of “selling the country out.” The following day, Sunday, August 2, a security team raided the outlet’s offices without due process, confiscating equipment from its multimedia studio. On August 3, police issued an eviction order, demanding the company vacate its premises within three days, effectively ending 16 years of operation at that location.
This pattern of targeting independent news outlets fits into a broader narrative of shrinking press freedom in Ethiopia. In February, authorities revoked the Addis Standard’s media registration, citing violations of media ethics and threats to “national interests,” without specifying the reports in question. The news site continued its operations while challenging this decision in court. The recent actions suggest a concerted effort to silence critical reporting, impacting the flow of information and public discourse within the country.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has described these events as “an alarming escalation in Ethiopian authorities' campaign to dismantle one of the country's leading independent news organisations.” Human Rights Watch (HRW) echoed this concern, stating that the harassment of the Addis Standard reflects a wider effort to suppress critical voices. HRW noted that in the past year, Ethiopian authorities have arbitrarily arrested numerous journalists, held some incommunicado, and revoked media licences, creating a hostile environment for independent reporting.
The Ethiopian government has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations. The Addis Standard’s website remains active, providing updates on the raid and its aftermath, as Jakken Publishing consults on its next steps. The international community and media freedom advocates will closely monitor the situation, watching for any official response or further actions against the Addis Standard and other independent media outlets in Ethiopia. This ongoing situation highlights the precarious state of press freedom and the challenges faced by journalists operating in the region.