You can find Ethiopian news on YouTube, including coverage from Ashara and Nisir International Broadcasting Corporation. However, the situation has recently been fraught with controversy. In the past week, authorities have raided the studios of the Nisir and Ashara International Broadcasting Corporations and detained several journalists. Meanwhile, five staff members from Ashara Media were detained. In addition, TV host Solomon Shumye was arrested in Addis Ababa last week on suspicion of inciting violence.
At least a dozen journalists have been detained in a wave of arrests in Ethiopia
At least a dozen YouTube journalists were detained in a recent wave of arrests in Ethiopia, where the government has been cracking down on free speech. The arrests were announced by the federal police commission’s communication bureau. According to the bureau’s head, the detainees had ties to “a banned terrorist organization,” the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF has been fighting government forces for several months and has recently withdrawn from a key city, Mekelle.
The arrests began on 17 March, when a prominent human rights lawyer and editor were arrested. They were charged with “contempt of court” for questioning a case pending before the High Court and raising concerns about the judiciary. Both Maseko and Makhubu were remanded to prison pending trial. They were denied access to a lawyer.
The police beat six members of the HSHG and other members of the group. Wilfred Olal and Bunge la Mwananchi were arrested in arbitrary circumstances. Nelson Mandela, Kipkorir John, and Bunge la Mwananchi were also arrested arbitrary. In all, at least a dozen YouTube journalists have been detained in the current arrest wave.
Among those detained are Mohamed Aweys Mudey, a Somali national. He was accused of possessing information about Al-Shabaab’s operations, and of participating in terrorist activities. He was convicted of both counts on 2 March 2014 and sentenced to seven years in prison. Despite his legal defense, he has lost all access to his family and friends.
The arrests are a response to recent protests, which have caused a major political uproar. The Ethiopian government has imposed new laws against protesting groups and have censured NTN24 for reporting on these protests. The arrests are an attempt to control free speech and silence the opposition. If the arrests are true, then the internet is at risk of a total censorship.
The arrests were also intended to punish those who are critical of government corruption. However, the charges do not appear to be a response to the protests. Rather, they are the result of a government crackdown on the Internet. The authorities do not allow the press to operate without the government’s permission, so censorship is necessary to protect the country’s image.
Solomon Shumye is charged with inciting violence
A popular TV presenter and online video host in Ethiopia has been arrested. Authorities have raided the studios of the Nisir International Broadcasting Corporation in Amhara and are seized equipment. YouTube user Solomon Shumye, who hosts a video channel on the website, has been accused of inciting violence on his YouTube channel. The case will likely be tried in court.
The charge was filed against Shumye after police arrested him and took him to a local police station. He was later transferred to a secret location. It is unclear where he is currently being held. Earlier in May, the government arrested more than a dozen journalists, activists, and commentators, reportedly in an effort to quash dissident views. But the government has not revealed why the people are being abducted.
Other recent arrests in Ethiopia have raised concerns in the international community. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, a state-affiliated human rights organization, said that a number of detainees were illegally arrested. In addition, many of those detained were not brought before a court or even allowed to visit their families. The Ethiopian government has also reportedly accused journalists and media representatives of harassment and intimidation.
Meaza Mohammed is the co-founder and host at the YouTube based media outlet Roha TV
Meaza Mohammed, the co-founder and host at the YouTube-based media outlet Roha TV, was recently arrested by Ethiopian police for her critical comments about the government’s policies. Last week, the government forced Ethiopian schools to close and asked students to help harvest crops. The arrest is the third for an Ethiopian journalist in less than a week.
Before joining Roha TV, Meaza worked at another media outlet, Abbay, which was also based in Ethiopia. He was arrested on December 7 in Addis Ababa, and taken to Sostegna. During this time, he hosted a weekly discussion show for his viewers. His most recent programming included interviews with analysts about the ongoing war in Ethiopia, as well as discussions on global superpowers and the region’s politics.
