Ethiopian Media Authority: Addis Standard Challenges License Revocation

• Addis Standard editor Yonas Kedir was detained and questioned for 24 hours on August 1, followed by a raid on the outlet's offices the next day.
• This follows the February revocation of Addis Standard's operating license by the Ethiopian Media Authority, a decision the outlet is challenging in court.
• The EMA has also issued "final written warnings" to Arts TV and Ahadu FM, threatening license suspension or revocation for alleged media law violations.
• These actions are part of a broader government campaign of arbitrary arrests and license revocations against independent media, often on vague national security grounds.
• Despite the deteriorating environment for media freedom, Ethiopia's international partners have remained silent.

The heightened risk of arbitrary detention, aggressive regulatory action, and license revocation by the Ethiopian Media Authority points to a deteriorating rule of law environment for freedom of expression, necessitating proactive risk management strategies.

Ethiopian authorities have intensified their crackdown on independent media, with the Addis Standard news outlet facing a series of punitive actions. On August 1, unidentified security personnel detained Yonas Kedir, the editor-in-chief, for a full 24 hours, during which he was questioned regarding the publication's reporting before his eventual release. The very next day, security and intelligence officials executed a raid on the Addis Standard's offices, resulting in the damage and confiscation of essential equipment. This marks a pattern of harassment for the outlet, which previously saw its managing editor, Million Beyene, seized by men in plainclothes four months prior. Mr. Beyene was held incommunicado for nearly two weeks before being released without any charges, and authorities have yet to provide a public explanation for his detention.

These recent incidents follow a significant regulatory blow earlier this year. In February, the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA), the government's media regulatory body, formally revoked the Addis Standard's operating license. The EMA cited alleged repeated violations of media laws as the basis for its decision. The independent news organization is currently challenging this revocation in court, seeking to reinstate its ability to operate legally within the country. The ongoing legal battle over the Ethiopian Media Authority Addis Standard license underscores the precarious position of independent journalism in Ethiopia.

The actions against Addis Standard are not isolated but rather indicative of a wider campaign by Ethiopian authorities aimed at stifling independent media and deterring reporting deemed critical or sensitive. Over the past year, there has been a significant increase in arbitrary arrests of journalists, with many held incommunicado for extended periods. Concurrently, numerous media outlets and individual journalists have seen their accreditation or licenses revoked, further narrowing the space for free expression. The Ethiopian Media Authority regulatory actions extend beyond Addis Standard, as evidenced by its engagement with other independent broadcasters.

The EMA has also accused Arts TV and Ahadu FM, two other independent broadcasters, of repeated violations of media laws. On July 31, the Authority issued "final written warnings" to both outlets, explicitly threatening that any further infractions could lead to the suspension or outright revocation of their operating licenses. These regulatory threats, often justified on vague grounds of "national security" or "national interest," contribute to an increasingly hostile environment for independent media. The pattern of Ethiopia journalist arbitrary arrest and license challenges highlights a systemic effort to control the narrative.

The repeated targeting of the Addis Standard, coupled with the regulatory threats against other independent broadcasters, signals a significant deterioration in media freedom within Ethiopia. This hostile environment, which had already worsened in the lead-up to the country's June elections, has continued its downward trajectory. Earlier concerns that the Ethiopian government might exploit the electoral period as a pretext to further restrict independent media have unfortunately proven to be well-founded. It appears that the government has now established a comprehensive machinery of repression, showing little inclination to halt its operations.

This escalating situation presents considerable risks for lawyers advising media organizations or foreign entities operating in Ethiopia. The heightened risk of arbitrary detention, aggressive regulatory action, and license revocation by the Ethiopian Media Authority points to a deteriorating rule of law environment for freedom of expression, necessitating proactive risk management strategies. Despite the shrinking space for independent media and the clear signs of Ethiopia independent media repression, Ethiopia's international partners have largely remained silent. There is a pressing need for these partners to publicly condemn the government's latest attacks and exert pressure on authorities to uphold media freedom, ensuring journalists can report without the constant fear of arbitrary detention, intimidation, or reprisals.

Lawyers advising media or foreign entities in Ethiopia must assess the heightened risk of arbitrary detention, regulatory action, and license revocation by the Ethiopian Media Authority, signaling a deteriorating rule of law environment for freedom of expression and requiring proactive risk management.

Source: Original reporting via Human Rights Watch.