Ethiopia Weaponizing Media Laws After Suspending Deutsche Welle Reporters CPJ Says
CPJ Condemns Ethiopia’s Suspension of DW Journalists as ‘Outrageous Act of Censorship’
ADDIS ABABA – The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) has temporarily suspended the licenses of Deutsche Welle (DW) Amharic service correspondents operating in Ethiopia, citing violations of the country’s media and hate speech laws. The decision, delivered in a letter on October 23, 2025, has drawn immediate and sharp condemnation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which labeled the action a “blatant act of censorship and intimidation.”
The EMA informed the German state-funded broadcaster that its local reports were “not in line with professional ethical standards.” The authority’s letter detailed that DW representatives had been repeatedly summoned for discussions and warnings since September 2022, but claimed “no tangible improvements were observed.”
DW, in a statement sent to CPJ, disputed the EMA’s allegations, stating the letter contained no “concrete allegations” against its coverage and called on Ethiopian authorities to specify which reports allegedly breached media proclamations.
CPJ: Authorities ‘Weaponizing Media Laws’
Responding to the development, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a strong rebuke, calling on the EMA to immediately lift the suspension and allow journalists to work freely.
“This blatant suspension of Deutsche Welle’s journalists is an outrageous act of censorship and intimidation,” said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. “Ethiopian authorities are weaponizing media laws to silence independent reporting and control the narrative. The government must immediately lift the suspension, stop harassing journalists, and respect the public’s right to information.”
The EMA did not reply toCPJ’s emailed request for comment on the specific coverage that led to the suspension.
Context of Expanded EMA Powers
The suspension comes amidst a controversial expansion of the Ethiopian Media Authority’s regulatory powers, following an amendment to the country’s media law on April 17, 2025. This amendment transferred key regulatory functions, including the ability to suspend, revoke, or fine media licenses, directly to the EMA, a move critics argue weakened public participation and transparency requirements in the authority’s board appointments.
Ethio Insight will continue to monitor the situation regarding the DW correspondents and the status of press freedom in the country.
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