The Committee To Protect Journalists Calls On Ethiopian Authorities To Immediately Release Journalist Salsawit Baynesagn
ADDIS ABABA – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has formally called on Ethiopian authorities to immediately release independent journalist Salsawit Baynesagn or promptly present her before a court of law. The New York-based press freedom organization stated that her prolonged detention without judicial review or official charges raises severe due process concerns.
Salsawit Baynesagn was arrested by federal police at her home in Addis Ababa on June 8, 2026, after being told she was wanted for questioning. According to family members and legal counsel, she has since been held without a single court appearance, violating statutory timelines.
Salsawit’s sister, Haymanot Baynesagn, confirmed that family members were completely denied access to her for the first two days while she was held in a temporary facility locally referred to as the “dark room”. She was subsequently transferred to the Addis Ababa Police Commission headquarters, commonly known as “Sostegna”.
Though police initially informed the family that Salsawit would appear in court on June 16, she was never brought to the scheduled hearing. Her lawyer, Zewdu Bekele, filed a habeas corpus application on June 16 to secure her release. Under Ethiopian law, detainees must be brought before a judge within 48 hours and formally notified of any allegations against them. However, efforts to serve the court summons to the Addis Ababa police were obstructed by officials citing office relocations.
The CPJ and Salsawit’s family strongly suspect her detention is a direct retaliation for her recent independent journalistic commentary broadcasted across TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Salsawit, who previously worked for state-affiliated networks Walta TV and Fana Media Corporation before transitioning to independent media in late 2025, recently published video essays addressing highly sensitive public issues.
Specifically, her final commentaries on June 5 heavily criticized the government, public figures, and religious institutions for their perceived silence regarding the massacre of more than 13 Orthodox Christian civilians in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia regional state. Her arrest coincided with the detentions of several prominent scholars, theologians, and commentators associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC).
CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal emphasized the broader implications of the arrest, stating that Salsawit’s detention without charge is a serious violation of fundamental rights and serves as a chilling warning to all Ethiopian journalists covering sensitive public affairs.
The unconstitutional detention of Salsawit Baynesagn highlights a deeply concerning pattern of state-led pressure on independent media professionals in Ethiopia. By bypassing the mandatory 48-hour judicial presentation and withholding formal charges, law enforcement agencies undermine basic legal protections. The CPJ’s intervention underscores the urgent need for international oversight as local press freedom continues to erode under arbitrary security crackdowns targeting critical reporting.
