Borkena
Toronto – Yonas Amare, a senior journalist and editor with the Ethiopian Reporter, was reportedly abducted by gunmen described as “unidentified wearing masks” near the capital Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Reporter has confirmed the story.
His employer reported that Yonas did not show up at his work place since August 14. The Ethiopian Reporter added that there was an effort to reach him on his cellular phone to no avail.
It is also indicated that friends and family members have been trying to contact him.
What is known at this point is, based on disclosure from the Ethiopian Reporter, a prominent local news paper, that Yonas was abducted from Koye Feche Condominium in Sheger city where he lives.
“He was taken on Wednesday in the evening by individuals wearing masks,” Reporter reported citing security guards who were on duty near the area. However, no further information was provided. His whereabouts are unknown at the time of this writing.
Sheger City is within the Oromia regional state where abduction is prevalent. It is unclear at this point if his abduction is politically motivated as part of the crackdown on the free press in the country.
An investigative Reuters report published in 2024 revealed that Kore Negegna, which is said to be under the command of government structure, has been behind the killings and kidnappings in the region.
However, there is also an armed group operating in the region – Oromo Liberation Army – which has been linked to many kidnappings and killings in the region.
It has become customary under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration to “take” politicians and journalists from their residence during afterhours.
CPJ has not yet remarked about the story of Yonas Amare.
Yonas has been undertaking a series of interviews recently particularly with politicians from the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
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