Fourteen diplomatic missions in Ethiopia have raised concern over deteriorating freedom of expression in the country and called for journalists to be “protected” and press freedom “respected.”
In a joint statement issued on Saturday in connection to the World Press Freedom Day, the missions of Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom said they “reiterate our support for the independence and safety of journalists around the world.”
The embassies stated that ensuring the protection of journalists and respect for press freedom, “together with an open political and civic space,” is “key to building free and prosperous societies.
Similarly, the European Union, marking World Press Freedom Day, stated that it “believes that a free press and a well-informed public are key for free, democratic, and inclusive societies.” In a statement, the EU added that press freedom “helps ambitious development plans,” including those “pursued by the Government of Ethiopia,” by ensuring transparency and accountability.
It stressed that “without press freedom, the right to information and freedom to think critically are compromised.” The EU also used the occasion to “reaffirm its commitment to defend free and independent journalism in the face of unprecedented threats.”
The Reporters Without Borders 2025 World Press Freedom Index ranks Ethiopia 145th out of 180 countries, placing the nation in the “very serious” category for the first time. Released on 2 May, the ranking places Ethiopia alongside Uganda (143rd) and Rwanda (146th) as East African countries experiencing a “worrying decline” in press freedom.
MG/as/APA