Two Ethiopian journalists who were abducted earlier this month have reportedly been released after ten days in custody, local media reported on Friday.
According to Ethiopian Reporter, senior editor Yonas Amare and radio host Abdulsemed Mohammed were freed in the evening, though the circumstances surrounding their release remain unclear.
Yonas Amare, a veteran journalist and producer at Ethiopian Reporter, was abducted in Koye Feche, Sheger city by masked armed men. His whereabouts remained unknown for over a week, and he did not appear in court during his detention.
Abdulsemed Mohammed, host of the popular “Kidame Gebeya Show” on Ahadu Radio, was reportedly taken without an arrest warrant from the 22 area of Addis Ababa. His family members said they were unable to obtain any information about his location during the period of his disappearance.
Neither the Federal Police nor other government officials have commented on the case. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had earlier condemned the abductions, calling on Ethiopian authorities to immediately disclose the journalists’ whereabouts and ensure their safety.
Although the journalists have now regained their freedom, it is not yet clear whether their release came with restrictions or conditions. They have not publicly shared details about their detention.
The case has once again raised concerns about press freedom in Ethiopia, where journalists have faced increasing arrests, harassment, and censorship in recent years. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, once praised for pledging to open political space after 2018, has faced mounting criticism from rights groups for shrinking democratic freedoms since the outbreak of the Tigray conflict in 2020.
