Addis Abeba — High Minister Abiy Ahmed has issued pointed criticism in opposition to “some” Ethiopian media retail outlets, accusing them of “working to serve their own interests than putting national interest first.”
Within the same vein, the Executive Communique Carrier (GCS) has faulted commercial media for downplaying nationwide agendas, often framing them narrowly as event or authorities narratives.
Talking on the media panorama in the direction of the final phase of a four-part interview aired final weekend on multiple voice-bustle and event-owned platforms, PM Abiy suggested journalists and media properties to home the country’s “national interest” at the heart of their work.
Commenting on the role of media, the High Minister acknowledged, “media is like fire, it can either destroy or build, depending on how it is used. Like a machete, it can serve good or bad purposes.” He went on to explain, “there is no such thing as an independent media in the world,” and doubled down on his earlier statement that “some media outlets in Ethiopia are working to serve their own interests.”
He additional accused these media organizations of “misleading the public by spreading false information and fabricated news.” While acknowledging the vitality of the press, he emphasized that guilty media could possibly perhaps possibly play a constructive role in shaping the country’s future, whereas misuse could possibly perhaps possibly motive serious damage.
These talking points were revisited in the direction of a panel dialogue held on 7 June below the theme: “Government and Commercial Media Collaboration on National Development Efforts.” Senior representatives from the Executive Communique Carrier known as on commercial media retail outlets, which constitutes independent media, to “respect Ethiopia’s national interest” and level of interest on developmental narratives that support future generations. Officials criticized many commercial media platforms for neglecting “national priorities”, often framing them as event related and partisan in preference to of broader public train.
Talking at the event, Tesfahun Gobezay, Speak Minister at the Executive Communique Carrier, remarked: “there is a tendency among some media outlets to ignore national agendas, dismissing them as party or government issues.” He added, “Some media do not report on certain national matters with sufficient depth or accuracy. Out of fear of losing audience engagement, they avoid even covering successful developments, which reflects a lack of genuine commitment to informing the public.”
Tesfahun acknowledged gaps related to access to files. But he criticized media retail outlets for “presenting issues in an unbalanced way,” arguing that this contributes to “the reluctance of some government institutions to provide information.” Nonetheless, he affirmed the authorities’s ongoing commitment to uphold the public’s correct to files.
The dialogue also explored ways to expand the country’s “developmental achievements”, sort out communique challenges, and “align on shared national objectives,” amongst others.
These developments advance just appropriate a month after 14 diplomatic missions in Ethiopia, including those of the United Kingdom and France, issued a joint statement expressing train over “significant pressure” on freedom of expression. The statement known as for the protection of journalists and appreciate for press freedom.
Alongside side to the train, the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), launched on 2 Might perhaps possibly perhaps merely, ranked Ethiopia 145th out of 180 countries, inserting it for the first time in the “very serious” class. The rating aligns Ethiopia with Uganda (143rd) and Rwanda (146th), countries also going through what RSF calls a “worrying decline” in press freedom across East Africa.
Earlier in April, a document by World Media Enhance (IMS) revealed that now not now not up to 43 journalists in Ethiopia were arrested, imprisoned, or kidnapped in 2024. The Journalists’ Security Evaluation File infamous a provocative upward thrust in intimidation, detention, and harassment of media professionals, in particular in war-affected areas reminiscent of Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz.
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It’s miles recalled that on 17 April, the Home of Peoples’ Representatives authorized an amendment to Ethiopia’s Mass Media Proclamation, transferring the authority to nominate the Director Total of the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) from the Home to the High Minister.
The amendment repeals key provisions aimed at transparency and public participation in appointing EMA management. Particularly, it gets rid of Article 8(2), which mandated the Home to nominate the Director Total, and Articles 9(1) and 9(2), which required board people to be chosen through an launch, participatory assignment that reflected Ethiopia’s range. Below the revised rules, the High Minister now nominates the EMA Director Total, who is then appointed by the Home.
In November 2024, a coalition of 14 media affiliation and civil society organizations raised concerns over these adjustments, warning that the amendment would home the EMA “under the influence of the executive.”
