 has called on Ethiopian authorities to immediately release prominent journalist Tesfalem Waldyes){kind=link}
Getahun Tsegaye
Staff Reporter
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Ethiopian authorities to immediately release prominent journalist Tesfalem Waldyes, who remains in detention despite a court granting him bail.
Tesfalem, founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Ethiopia Insider, was arrested on June 8 by plainclothes officers at Addis Ababa’s Ghion Hotel, according to a statement by Haq Media and Communication and media reports. He was initially held in the Estifanos neighborhood before being transferred to another police station.
On June 10, Tesfalem appeared before the Addis Ababa City First Instance Kirkos Division Court, where police accused him of “spreading false information.” The court granted bail of 15,000 birr (approximately US$109) and issued a release order following payment. Despite this, authorities have yet to release him, it said.
“The detention of Tesfalem Waldyes, even after a court-ordered his release, underscores the Ethiopian government’s disregard for judicial processes and press freedom,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo. “Authorities must immediately release Tesfalem unconditionally.”
Tesfalem’s lawyer, Betemariam Alemayehu, confirmed to CPJ that although police indicated plans to appeal the release order, no formal appeal had been submitted as of Tuesday evening. Both the lawyer and Haq Media say he remains in custody.
This isn’t the first time Tesfalem has faced state pressure. In 2014, he was detained for over a year on charges related to inciting violence and terrorism. In July 2023, CPJ also urged an investigation into a break-in at Ethiopia Insider‘s office, during which video production equipment was stolen.
Repeated attempts by CPJ to reach Addis Ababa police spokesperson Markos Tadesse and Ethiopian government spokesperson Legesse Tulu went unanswered.
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