#Ethiopia takes third place in Africa for journalist incarceration, trailing behind #Eritrea and #Egypt
Ethiopia has been ranked as the third-worst country in Africa for imprisoning journalists in 2023, trailing behind Eritrea and Egypt, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ). The number of jailed Ethiopian journalists has risen to eight, highlighting the challenges faced by the media in the country.
Despite the signing of a peace agreement in 2022 to end the civil war, Ethiopia continues to experience unrest, particularly in the #Amhara region, where clashes persist between regional militias and federal forces. All eight journalists included in the CPJ’s census were arrested in 2023 after covering the ongoing conflict.
The CPJ report also highlights media crackdowns in other African countries. Eritrea, with 16 imprisoned journalists, is identified as the seventh-worst jailer of journalists globally and the worst in Africa. None of the journalists detained in Eritrea have been charged, and some cases represent the longest-known instances of journalist imprisonment worldwide. Egypt ranked second in Africa, with 13 imprisoned journalists. #Cameroon currently detains six journalists, following behind Ethiopia
