Ethiopian authorities have detained a French journalist, Antoine Galindo, accusing him of “conspiracy to create chaos,” as reported by his employer, Africa Intelligence, on Monday. Galindo was apprehended in the capital, Addis Ababa, last Thursday while on assignment. According to Africa Intelligence, a judge extended his detention until March 1 during a hearing held on Saturday.
Requests for comments from the Ethiopian government, police, and the French embassy in Addis Ababa have not been responded to as of now. Africa Intelligence, in a statement, revealed that its lawyer attended the hearing and was informed about the charges against Galindo. The publication strongly condemned the arrest, deeming it unjustified, and called for his immediate release.
This incident adds to the concerns raised by human rights activists over press freedom restrictions in Ethiopia, particularly in the context of critical coverage of conflicts and security issues.
The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, has reported at least eight Ethiopian journalists being detained since August.
While Ethiopia experienced a period of media liberalization under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018, with the release of numerous jailed journalists, critics argue that the government has since tightened its grip on dissent amid civil conflicts, such as the 2020-2022 war in the northern Tigray region.
Prime Minister Abiy maintains that his actions are aimed at ensuring stability and law and order in the ethnically diverse nation.
