Ethiopia has escalated its efforts to control the media, a move that has drawn international attention and concerns about press freedom ahead of the upcoming 2026 elections. Rights groups have raised alarms over the government’s growing crackdown on journalists, citing a pattern of detentions and censorship that has persisted for years.
The current climate has raised fears that the government may use the media as a tool to shape public opinion in favor of its political agenda, particularly in the lead-up to the critical 2026 elections. Human rights organizations are urging the international community to monitor the situation closely and to support efforts to protect press freedom in Ethiopia.