The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 30 July 2026 a press release titled "CPJ Calls for Release of Ailing Sudanese Journalists Held by RSF, Protection of Darfur 24 Reporters."
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces kidnapped three Nyala radio station journalists in February and threatened Darfur 24 reporters. The Committee to Protect Journalists called for the release of the journalists and condemnation of the threats against Darfur 24 reporters.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 12 June 2026 a press release titled "Ethiopia Expels French Journalist Augustine Passilly after Reporting Trip to Tigray."
Following a reporting trip to Ethiopia's Tigray Region, Ethiopian authorities expelled Augustine Passilly, La Croix newspaper's Ethiopia correspondent since September 2023.
The Eastleigh Voice published on 17April 2026 an article titled "'Addis Standard' Editor Million Beyene Missing after Alleged Abduction in Ethiopian Capital" by Mwangi Maina.
Addis Standard managing editor Million Beyene remains missing after being abducted in Addis Ababa on 15 April, allegedly by security personnel. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for his release and the holding accountable of those who seized him.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 6 March 2026 a press release titled "Somaliland Journalist Ahmed-Zaki Ibrahim Mohamud Held Without Charge Since February."
The founder of Warrame Media has been held without charges since 22 February by Somaliland authorities, who have cracked down on press freedom over the past year.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 24 February 2026 a news release titled "Ethiopia Revokes Addis Standard's License Amid Escalating Crackdown on Independent Media."
The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) revoked the Addis Standard's online media registration certificate effective 24 February. The EMA accused the Addis Standard of violating Ethiopian laws and endangering the national interests of the country. The action is part of a crackdown on independent media in Ethiopia.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 16 February 2026 a news release titled "Ethiopia Revokes Journalists' Accreditation Following Investigative Report."
The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on Ethiopian authorities to restore the accreditation of 3 Reuters journalists who were banned from reporting following an in-depth report that Ethiopia was secretly training forces to fight on behalf of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 21 November 2025 a press release titled "South Sudan Authorities Suspend Hot in Juba News Outlet."
The South Sudan Media Authority has suspended the "Hot in Juba" online news outlet for reasons that are not clear.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 21 October 2025 an article titled "'Stop Filming, Or I Will Shoot': Ethiopian Journalists Targeted in Tigray Turmoil."
Ethiopia's Tigray Region remains a dangerous place for journalists even though the civil war is over. In addition, professional journalistic practices are missing as local journalists tend to side with one of the political factions in Tigray and contribute to polarization of the region.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 18 September 2025 a statement titled "CPJ Calls for Immediate Release of Somaliland Journalist Abdiaziz Awl."
Police in Burao arrested KT Media TV reporter Abdiaziz Awl on September 12 without stating the reason for the arrest. The Somaliland Journalists Association claims that more than 20 journalists have been arrested since the beginning of the year.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 5 September 2025 a press release titled "Ethiopian Police Detain 2 Sheger FM Journalists, Force Station to Delete Report."
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Ethiopian authorities detained 2 FM radio journalists and forced the station to remove a report on widespread poor working conditions of healthcare workers.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 6 June 2025 a press release titled "Zambia Court Blocks Film Investigating Chinese Businesses."
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia sued a privately-owned news outlet and obtained a gag order from the Lusaka High Court to prevent airing of a documentary titled "Chinese investment in Zambia: the good, the bad, and the dangerous." The Chinese Chamber of Commerce said the documentary disparages and demeans Chinese investment in Zambia.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 29 May 2025 a press release titled "CPJ, 31 Others Call for UN Scrutiny of Eritrea's Human Rights Record."
As of 1 December 2024, Eritrea remained the worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa, with 16 behind bars without charge or trial. The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 31 other non-governmental organizations calling on the UN Human Rights Council to condemn grave human rights violations in Eritrea.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 15 May 2025 a press release titled "Alarming Escalation: At Least 41 Journalists Targeted since March in Somalia."
Somali security personnel have arrested, assaulted, or harassed at least 41 private media journalists since mid-March. The crackdown follows a deteriorating security situation caused by the al-Shabaab terrorist organization.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 16 May 2025 a press release titled "7 Journalist Arrests in a Month as Ethiopia Quashes Independence of Media Regulator."
Ethiopia arrested at least 7 journalists during April as the government increased its power over the press. Eritrea and Ethiopia had the two worst records in 2024 in Sub-Saharan Africa for the number of journalists in jail.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 9 April 2025 a bulletin titled "At Least 7 Journalists Detained in Ethiopia on Terror Allegations."
Police arrested at least 7 journalists with the privately owned Ethiopia Broadcasting Service (EBS) over what authorities said was a fabricated documentary. The EBS founder apologized for airing the fabricated allegation. The journalists' lawyers said the editorial lapses should be addressed under Ethiopia's media law, not its antiterrorism legislation.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 24 January 2025 a press release titled "South Sudan Blocks Social Media Amid Unrest."
The government of South Sudan has directed all internet service providers to block access to all social media accounts for a minimum of 30 days.
The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 18 June 2024 an article titled "Fleeing Prolonged Media Crackdown, Ethiopian Journalists Struggle in Exile."
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that it is aware of at least 54 Ethiopian journalists and media workers who have gone into exile since 2020. This article focuses on Tesfa Alem-Tekle, Woldegiorgis Ghebrehiwet Teklay, Belete Kassa, Yayesew Shimelis, and Guyo Wariyo.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 4 December 2023 a press release titled "Ethiopian Authorities Detain Ethio News Chief Editor Belay Manaye without Charge."
Arrested by police on 13 November, Belay Manaye, chief editor of Ethio News, remains in detention without an explanation from Ethiopian authorities. Belay has extensively covered the conflict in Amhara region.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 5 October a press release titled "Three Journalists Detained in Ethiopia, Transferred to Military Camp."
The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Ethiopian authorities to release 3 journalists detained in late August and early September: Tewodros Zerfu with Yegna TV and Menelik Television; Nigussie Berhanu, co-host of Yegna Forum; and Yehualashet Zerihun, program director at Tirita 97.6 FM.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 1 August 2022 a commentary titled "Journalists Face Growing Hostility as Ethiopia's Civil War Persists" by Muthoki Mumo.
According to the Committe to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Ethiopia now ranks with Eritrea as sub-Saharan Africa's worst jailer of journalists. CPJ has documented the arrest of at least 63 journalists and media workers since November 4, 2020, the outbreak of civil war, at least eight of whom remain detained as of August 1, 2022.
