Ethiopia Restores Accreditation for Reuters Reporters After Six-Month Suspension

On August 28, the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) announced that it had reinstated accreditation for three Addis Ababa-based Reuters journalists whose credentials had been suspended for six months. The suspension began in February, shortly after Reuters released an investigative report alleging that Ethiopia was operating a covert training camp for thousands of fighters supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The EMA said the decision followed recent discussions with senior Reuters officials.

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The February revocation of accreditation was a direct response to the Reuters investigation, which claimed Ethiopia was providing a secret training facility for RSF combatants. Ethiopian officials have not issued a public comment on the allegations. The six-month suspension effectively barred the three journalists from conducting new reporting in the country, though it did not affect previously published material.

The Straits Times

In a statement, the EMA indicated that the accreditation renewal resulted from constructive dialogue with Reuters leadership, emphasizing a desire to maintain professional standards for foreign media operating in Ethiopia. A Reuters spokesperson expressed appreciation for the reinstatement and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to covering Ethiopia in line with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles, stressing independence, impartiality, and reliability.

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The restoration of credentials signals a tentative easing of restrictions on foreign journalists after a period of heightened tension over reporting on regional conflicts. While the EMA’s move may improve access for international media, observers note that the underlying allegations about Ethiopia’s involvement in Sudan’s conflict remain unaddressed, leaving questions about the broader environment for investigative journalism in the country.

The Straits Times