Seven Ethiopian Journalists Detained on Terrorism Allegations After Broadcasting Rape Accusation
In late March 2025, at least seven Ethiopian journalists were detained on terrorism charges after airing a controversial story on the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS) accusing military personnel of raping a woman in 2020. The accusations, which initially sparked widespread attention, were later retracted by the woman involved, leading to further complications for the journalists and media outlet.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the woman had alleged that she was abducted and raped by men in military uniforms while she was a student in 2020. However, after the broadcast, she retracted her statement on a state-owned channel. EBS’s founder issued a public apology, explaining that the station had discovered that the woman’s allegations were fabricated after the program aired.
Despite the retraction, the Ethiopian authorities moved quickly to arrest the journalists. Court documents reviewed by CPJ revealed that police accused the journalists of attempting to incite conflict, threaten the constitutional order, and coordinate with “extremist” groups in the Amhara region. This came at a time when the region, Ethiopia’s second-most populous, has been embroiled in escalating violence.
Amhara has become a focal point of instability in Ethiopia, particularly since April 2023, when the local group Fano shifted from being allies of the federal government to launching an armed rebellion. Despite a state of emergency being declared in the region in August 2023, unrest has only intensified, and parts of the region remain beyond the control of federal authorities.
The CPJ condemned the arrests, with Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo calling the charges “disproportionate” in light of the ethical concerns raised by the broadcast. The seven journalists, along with the woman who made the accusations, have been remanded in custody while authorities continue their investigation. The case further highlights the shrinking space for press freedom in Ethiopia, which ranks 141st out of 180 countries in the 2024 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
The situation in Amhara, marked by a surge in violence and instability, continues to challenge both federal authorities and local communities. As the investigation into the journalists’ arrests continues, the international community is closely monitoring the Ethiopian government’s response to the growing pressures on media freedom.
