Somali Public Opinion on Somalia's Political Future

 The Somali Public Agenda and Somali Dialogue Platform published in July 2026 a study titled "Navigating Political Transition: Citizens' Views on Elections, Legitimacy, and Governance in Somalia."

This study addresses how citizens understand democratic principles, electoral legitimacy, political mediation, and government accountability by means of a May-June 2026 public opinion poll conducted across Mogadishu and five Federal Member State capitals, reaching 928 respondents.  

The analysis examines which democratic principles citizens prioritize, which actors they trust to mediate political disputes, which institutions they trust to manage or oversee elections, and which issues they want political leaders to communicate about more openly.

The findings show that citizens express strong support for democratic reform in principle, but their preferences become more complex when democratic goals are weighed against peace, stability, term limits, press freedom, and public participation.

Africa and the Press Freedom Index

 Reporters without Borders just published its 2026 "World Press Freedom Index."  It ranks 180 countries.  The United States dropped seven places to 64 compared to 57 in 2025.  

Ten African countries had better scores than the United States.  The top five African press freedom countries were Seychelles (35), Ghana (39), Cape Verde (40), Mauritius (42) and Gabon (43).  But African countries were also well represented at the bottom of the list.  The five worst performers were Eritrea (180), Egypt (169), Djibouti (167), Sudan (161), and Ethiopia (148).  Curiously, all five are in northeast Africa.

Ethiopian Newspaper Editor Snatched

 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.  

Somaliland Journalist Held without Charges

 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.  

Ethiopian Crackdown on Independent Media

 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.

Ethiopia: The Challenges Facing Journalists in Tigray Region

 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.

Ethiopia Detains More Journalists

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 20 August 2025 an article titled "Ethiopian Journalist Abducted by Masked Men; 2 Others Detained."

Masked men abducted the editor of the privately-owned Ethiopian newspaper, Reporter.  Officials also detained a reporter with the state-owned Somali Regional Television and another with the privately-owned Ahadu Radio in Addis Ababa.

Zambia Gags Documentary Critical of Chinese Investment

 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.    

Somalia Cracks Down on Journalists

 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.  

Ethiopia Arrests More Journalists

 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.  

Press Freedom Index: 10 African Countries Score Better than US

 Reporters without Borders posted recently its "RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025: Economic Fragility a Leading Threat to Press Freedom."

RSF ranked 180 countries for the 2025 index.  Ten African countries, led by South Africa, Namibia, and Cabo Verde scored better than the United States, ranked number 57, although Sub-Saharan Africa generally experienced a decline in press freedom.  The five lowest ranking countries were Eritrea, North Korea, China, Syria, and Iran.  

The 2025 RSF index shows that today's news media are caught between preserving their editorial independence and ensuring their economic survival.  

Journalists Detained in Ethiopia's Tigray Region

 The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 21 September 2023 a press release titled "Three Ethiopian Journalists Beaten and Detained While Covering Protest in Tigray."

Security officers in Ethiopia's Tigray Region beat and detained 3 journalists in the capital of Tigray Region while covering an opposition protest.  The incident sends a chilling message that authorities in Tigray are unwilling to allow reporters to cover controversial issues.  

China's Global Media Influence in 2022

 Freedom House published in September 2022 "Beijing's Global Media Influence" report.  It provided detailed reports on 30 countries including 7 in Africa: Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.  

The study concluded that the Communist Party of China and its proxies are using more sophisticated and coercive tactics to shape media narratives and suppress critical reporting.  Of all 30 countries, Nigeria was deemed most vulnerable to Beijing's media influence campaigns.  

Ethiopian Government Shuts Down Publication

 The Committee to Protect Journalists published on 15 July 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Withdraws Addis Standard License, Outlet Ceases Publication."

In a blow to press freedom, the government of Ethiopia withdrew the operating license for the Addis Standard, forcing the magazine to cease publication, allegedly because it was threatening Ethiopian national security.  

Ethiopia Expels New York Times Reporter

 The New York Times published on 20 May 2021 an article titled "Ethiopia Expels New York Times Reporter" by Declan Walsh.

On 20 May, Ethiopia expelled an Irish journalist working for The New York Times because of his reporting on the conflict in Tigray Region.  He had been based in Addis Ababa since 2019.

Chinese Embassy Attacks Zimbabwean Journalist

 The New Zimbabwean published on 27 August 2020 an article titled "China Launches Unusual Attack on Zim Journalist over Diamond Miner, Angers Scribes." 

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe launched a rare attack on a Zimbabwean journalist who wrote an article critical of China's handling of the return of a diamond mine operation.  The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists came to the defense of one of its colleagues, calling the Chinese statement "ominous" and "unwarranted."

Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma

The Institute for Security Studies published on 15 July 2019 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma" by Semir Yusuf.

The author concluded that political change has come rapidly in Ethiopia, raising expectations that the country is finally on the road to democracy. The challenge is Ethiopia's legacy of a strong state that is currently perceived as fragile and unwilling to restore security and the rule of law.

Is Press Censorship Returning to Ethiopia?

The Committee to Protect Journalists posted on 9 July 2019 a commentary titled "In Era of Reform, Ethiopia Still Reverts To Old Tactics To Censor Press" by Muthoki Mumo.

Following the selection of Abiy Ahmed as Ethiopia's prime minister the country made great strides towards improving press freedom. The recent coup attempt was followed by an internet blackout and the arrest of several journalists. This raises the question whether Ethiopia is returning to past practices of reigning in the press.

Ethiopia Opens Press and New Problems

The Washington Post posted on 21 April 2019 an article titled "After Years of Repression, Ethiopia's Media Is Free--and Fanning the Flames of Ethnic Tension" by Paul Schemm.

Ethiopia improved more than any other nation in the world in the 2019 World Press Freedom Index. This new found press freedom has also led to abuses and lack of professionalism in the form of ethnic hate speech.

Africa: 2019 Press Freedom Rankings

Reporters Without Borders released on 18 April 2019 its 2019 Press Freedom Index for 180 countries around the world.

Six African countries received higher rankings than the 48th ranked United States. They were Namibia (23), Cape Verde (25), Ghana (27), South Africa (31), Burkina Faso (36), and Botswana (44). The five lowest ranked African countries were Eritrea (178), Sudan (175), Djibouti (173), Equatorial Guinea (165), and Somalia (164), all but one of them in the Horn of Africa. On the positive side, Ethiopia jumped 40 positions from 2018.