The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international advocate for journalist’s rights, has announced that Ethiopia’s press freedom has significantly decreased in the years following the evaluation conducted five years ago.

The Committee to Protect Journalists’ Rights (CPJ) made this announcement in a report on Ethiopia’s press freedom during the country’s five-year review presented at the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held yesterday.

The 47th United Nations Human Rights Conference highlighted a report on Ethiopia’s human rights situation and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which was presented and discussed.

During the presentation to the United Nations Human Rights Council, committee to protect journalists (CPJ) outlined the challenges Ethiopian journalists are currently facing, including arbitrary arrests, physical violence, harassment, and severe legal constraints.

The report also highlighted the lack of accountability for the killings of two journalists, physical attacks on media professionals, forced closures of media outlets, and the prevention of international journalists from entering Ethiopia for reporting.

“Despite reforms in Ethiopia over the past five years, the country continues to employ communication and anti-terrorism laws to suppress critics, shut down media organizations, and expel foreign correspondents,” as per the report.

According to a recent report by Freedom House on global internet freedom in 2024, it was observed that although there have been improvements in Africa, internet freedom in Ethiopia has experienced a decline.