Diplomatic missions raise alarm over declining press freedom in Ethiopia on World Press Freedom Day

Marking World Press Freedom Day, 14 diplomatic missions in Ethiopia, including those of the United Kingdom and France, expressed concern over what they described as the “significant pressure” on freedom of expression in the country and called for journalists to be “protected” and for press freedom to be “respected.”

In a joint statement issued on May 3, the missions, joined by Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom said they “reiterate our support for the independence and safety of journalists around the world.”

“In Ethiopia,” the statement continued, “freedom of expression continues to come under significant pressure.”

The embassies further stated that ensuring the protection of journalists and respect for press freedom, “together with an open political and civic space,” is “key to building free and prosperous societies.”

Similarly, the European Union, marking World Press Freedom Day, stated that it “believes that a free press and a well-informed public are key for free, democratic, and inclusive societies.”

In a statement, the EU added that press freedom “helps ambitious development plans,” including those “pursued by the Government of Ethiopia,” by ensuring transparency and accountability.

Right to information

It stressed that “without press freedom, the right to information and freedom to think critically are compromised.”

The EU also used the occasion to “reaffirm its commitment to defend free and independent journalism in the face of unprecedented threats.”

The statement from the diplomatic missions comes as press freedom deteriorates in Ethiopia. The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2025 World Press Freedom Index ranks Ethiopia 145th out of 180 countries, placing the nation in the “very serious” category for the first time.

Released on May 3, the ranking places Ethiopia alongside Uganda (143rd) and Rwanda (146th) as East African countries experiencing a “worrying decline” in press freedom.

RSF attributed the downgrade to growing political interference, economic fragility, and limited editorial independence. It reported that in over half of the countries assessed, including Ethiopia, a majority of respondents said media owners “always” or “often” interfered editorially. Many outlets “owe their survival to conditional financing from individuals close to the political or business worlds.”

“Guaranteeing freedom, independence, and plurality in today’s media landscape requires stable and transparent financial conditions,” said Anne Bocandé, RSF’s Editorial Director. She added that “without economic independence, there can be no free press,” and warned that financially strained media are more susceptible to “oligarchs and public authorities who seek to exploit them.”

Historic global decline

RSF stated that the 2025 Index shows a historic global decline in press freedom, with the average score of all evaluated countries dropping below 55 points. Over 60 per cent — 112 countries — recorded lower overall scores, and for the first time, more than half are rated as either “difficult” or “very serious” environments for journalism.

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RSF also stated that Ethiopia is among Sub-Saharan African countries where press freedom is experiencing a “worrying decline.” The economic score deteriorated in 80 per cent of countries in the region.

The report described a pattern in which “newsrooms are forced to self-censor, close, or go into exile,” and pointed to the hyper-concentration of media ownership “in the hands of political figures or business elites without safeguards for editorial independence” as a recurring issue.

A previous report by International Media Support (IMS), published on 2 April 2025, found that at least 43 journalists in Ethiopia were arrested, imprisoned, or kidnapped in 2024 amid rising threats to press freedom.

The Journalists’ Safety Assessment Report highlighted a sharp increase in intimidation, detention, and harassment of journalists by both state and non-state actors, particularly in conflict-affected areas like Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz.

Police raid

RSF’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index comes on the heels a police raid on the office of Addis Standard and the home of one of its senior staff members on April 17, during which three managers were detained, and multiple electronic devices were confiscated under the pretext of investigating a documentary allegedly aimed at “inciting violence.”

CPJ described the raid as an “escalating threat to press freedom,” while former US Assistant Secretary of State Tibor Nagy expressed his “disappointment” over the raid, adding, “No government likes independent media, which holds those in power accountable – but democracies accept it.”

Addis Standard condemned the raid in its editorial on April 30, calling it “A Dangerous Precedent,” and described it as a “chilling affront to data privacy” in Ethiopia.

The publication rejected the impunity surrounding the act, warning that such actions set a dangerous precedent for press freedom and digital privacy in the country.

Following the raid, Addis Standard’s IT team uncovered evidence of sophisticated surveillance malware on the returned devices, capable of real-time tracking, unauthorised access to private communications, and even activating microphones and cameras remotely.