By Caroline Malewo, MA student, OsloMet
In the paper session entitled ‘Censorship: Speaking Truth to an Authoritarian Power’, being part of the 8th conference of the Safety of Journalists at OsloMet University, Mulatu Moges gave a reflection on the safety of journalists in Ethiopia.
He expounded that, in 2018 Ethiopia was in transition and experienced media freedom at a higher level which paved a way for the increase in the number of journalists forums, media developers and media engagement.
Mulatu Moges explained that the situation changed after 2019 where all media, either public or private ones in Ethiopia began to face various challenges in their reporting on any topic, not just on political stories.
In Ethiopia between 2021 and 2022 two journalists were killed, sixty three mainstream media and thirty nine online journalists were jailed.
According to Moges, the main challenges that journalists face in Ethiopia include the absence of laws advocating for the safety of journalists, political constrain, lack of unity, and the absence of strong journalistic associations for the safety of journalists.
He concluded by saying “Now the media in Ethiopia is polarized both politically and ethnically which poses a question on the actual existence of freedom of expression”.