Press freedom under fire: Ethiopian police raid ‘Addis Standard' offices, detain journalists

Fresh concerns over press freedom in Ethiopia have emerged following police raids on the offices of Addis Standard, a leading privately owned news outlet. The officers also raided the home of one of its employees.

The actions, which included the detention of three staff members and the seizure of digital equipment, have drawn sharp criticism from media watchdogs.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the raids, describing them as part of a growing trend of repression targeting independent media in the country.

According to Addis Standard founder and publisher Tsedale Lemma, six plainclothes officers stormed the outlet's newsroom on April 17, detaining the newsroom manager and human resources manager, and taking them to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Unit for questioning.

Simultaneously, police also raided the home of the outlet's IT manager, allegedly assaulting him in front of his family before taking him into custody.

Officers reportedly confiscated mobile phones, computers, and other digital devices during the raids.

While the publisher later handed over passwords for the seized devices, the decision raised new concerns over data security and potential misuse of private or sensitive information.

"We cannot guarantee the integrity of any messages or emails sent from the compromised devices," the publisher, JAKENN Publishing PLC, stated.

Addis Standard staff who visited police headquarters on April 22 said they were not informed of any active legal process or summons related to the raid.

CPJ's Africa Programme Coordinator, Muthoki Mumo, called the actions part of a disturbing campaign against independent journalism in Ethiopia.

"The confiscation of the outlet's equipment raises grave concerns about potential misuse of sensitive data," she said, urging authorities to "end the investigation and return the seized items."

The incident adds to a series of media crackdowns in Ethiopia, where journalists have faced arrests, intimidation, and internet restrictions in recent years.

The raid on Addis Standard — known for its critical reporting and editorial independence — is being closely watched by both local and international press freedom advocates.

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