'Poison,' Politics, and the Press in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia's toxic political climate, Zenawi's government sweeps up jornalists and shuts down newspapers

The imprisoned journalists—several of whom were interviewed by CPJ with the government’s permission—said they were doing their jobs in criticizing the administration of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. “We’re not against this government,” Fassil Yenealem, the jailed publisher of Addis Zena, told CPJ. “It is through this government that we began to write. But when the government sees people starting to demand more democracy, freedom of expression, and development, they think it’s the fault of the press.” Read more