The African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) is alarmed by the detention of two journalists working with Sheger FM 102 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, following their coverage of grievances raised by health professionals.
On September 3, 2025, Federal Police arrested and detained Mintamir Tsegaye, a reporter, and Tigist Zerihun, an editor, shortly after the station aired a program highlighting demands by health workers for better salaries and benefits. A third staff member, Eshete Assefa, Head of News and Programs, was also detained but released the same day after providing a statement.
The journalists remain in custody at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Office in the Mexico area of Addis Ababa. Their first scheduled court appearance was postponed, with proceedings on September 5, 2025.
This detention adds to a disturbing trend of press freedom violations in Ethiopia. In recent weeks, other journalists, including Yonas Amare of The Reporter and Abdulselam Mohammed of Ahadu Radio, were arbitrarily detained and held for over ten days. Ethiopia ranks 145th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders, reflecting an increasingly hostile environment for journalists.
The Ethiopian Media Professionals Association (EMPA) condemned the detentions as “a dangerous practice” that undermines media independence.
AFEX strongly condemns the detention of the Sheger FM journalists and calls on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release them. Journalism is not a crime, and such actions only worsen Ethiopia’s already troubling press freedom record.
