A French journalist is being held in Ethiopia for what the authorities called acts of espionage.
Antoine Galindo, a reporter for Africa Intelligence publication was in Ethiopia to cover the last African Union summit but discovered soon after that he was of interest to the authorities who ordered his arrest and detention.
According to his employers at Africa Intelligence who decried his arrest as ‘unjustified’ Galindo was spirited in front of a judge who ordered an extension of his detention until March 1.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the 36-year-old Nairobi bureau chief for the publication was picked up by secrity agents on Thursday as he was meeting an unnamed opposition official of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF).
He has since been detained in a police cell in the capital Addis Ababa.
Demanding his immediate and unconditional release, Africa Intelligence claim Galindo’s detention was unlawful and based on ”spurious allegations” which could not justify the curtailment of his freedom.
He has lived in Ethiopia for at least four years.
WN/as/APA