News Peace a Precondition for Greater Press Freedom: AAU Expert
May 3, 2025
Parliament’s recent ratification of an amended Media Proclamation has drawn criticism from journalists and academic experts, who see the new law as another step in the wrong direction for press freedom in Ethiopia.
The new proclamation introduces new restrictions on live broadcasts, holding broadcasters responsible for events that may transpire during transmission, and places the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) more firmly under the influence of the government.
Among the experts who see the new law as a threat to an already weakened media landscape is Abdisa Zerai (PhD), a lecturer in Journalism and Communications at Addis Ababa University.
He expressed his concerns about the erosion of media freedom in Ethiopia during an interview with The Reporter in connection with the World Press Freedom Day.
Abdisa observes the incumbent Prosperity Party’s ascent to power was accompanied by optimism. Journalists and media outlets that had fled the country due to persecution under the previous regime were allowed to return. Positive steps followed, including reforms to media laws, the release of imprisoned journalists, and broader freedoms granted to the press.
However, Abdisa emphasized that the outbreak of war in northern Ethiopia severely disrupted these advancements.
“The attempts by warring parties to control the narrative not only restricted press freedom but also crippled the economy, making it harder for the media to function independently,” he said. “War and conflict have made it difficult for the media to remain impartial and independent, especially under strict states of emergency. During the war, only selected truths were allowed to be reported. The real reasons behind the conflict were not accurately conveyed. At that time, anyone trying to tell the truth faced pressure from both the government and society. Citizens were denied access to accurate and unbiased information, and the media’s freedom was seriously undermined.”
Even after the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in 2022, Abdisa explains, the media remains restricted.
“With renewed conflicts in the Amhara and Oromia regions, journalists are still unable to report freely or travel between regions without risking their safety,” he said.
The expert argues that any hope for improved press freedom relies on peace.
“We must first achieve peace. Talking about media freedom in the midst of war is a luxury. We are using up our resources in endless conflict. Armed groups are imposing blockades, life has become unbearably difficult, passengers are being robbed, job opportunities are scarce, factories are shutting down, and citizens are under immense pressure. If there’s no peace, the media will become a tool for those with power and money. Media freedom cannot exist without stability and economic recovery,” he told The Reporter.
Abdisa also commented on the recent amendment to the Media Proclamation.
“This has been under discussion for the past three years. The concern over the Media Authority’s limited power has made it a toothless lion—it can only watch silently when violations occur. If a media outlet commits an offense related to content distribution, the authority has no power to intervene. The law must be improved. Some experts advised the Media Authority to rely on other existing laws that allow for government action, but nothing came of it. The amended law, which initially gave hope to many, was not properly implemented. Meanwhile, the government continued to act outside its framework. The new law merely legitimizes what was already being done. Our greatest hope was that the laws issued would not only serve the interests of the party,” he said.