The striking gavel in the grand halls of the US Capitol seems distant from the ordeal faced by Antoine Galindo, a French journalist whose journey to Ethiopia for the African Union summit turned into a nightmare.
Detained since February 22, Galindo’s arrest sent ripples of concern through journalistic circles. His purposeful presence in Ethiopia, to cover the summit for the esteemed publication Africa Intelligence, was marred by accusations of inciting unrest.
The unfolding drama took a darker turn when Galindo was presented before a judge, whose verdict extended his detention until March 1. Such punitive measures were met with vehement opposition from Africa Intelligence, denouncing the arrest as baseless and devoid of substantiated evidence.
Galindo, a seasoned journalist with a profound understanding of East Africa, had meticulously adhered to protocol, informing Ethiopian authorities of his journalistic endeavors and securing the requisite visa. His past residency in Ethiopia, coupled with his affiliation with the Ethiopia Media Authority, further underlines his credibility.
However, his arrest paints a grim picture of press freedom in Ethiopia, a nation grappling with internal strife and external scrutiny. The tumultuous state of affairs, exacerbated by conflicts in regions like Amhara and Oromia, has created a hostile environment for journalists.
The Committee to Protect Journalists echoed the collective outrage, decrying Galindo’s arrest as emblematic of the perilous landscape journalists navigate in Ethiopia. With a staggering count of journalists behind bars and a palpable decline in press freedom rankings, Ethiopia’s trajectory is disconcerting.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s once-buoyant reputation as a reformer has been tarnished by allegations of human rights abuses, casting a shadow over the nation’s progress. The expulsion of foreign journalists and the recent surge in hostilities towards the press underscore a troubling regression.
Galindo’s detainment serves as a stark reminder of the perils journalists face in pursuit of truth and accountability. As the global community rallies behind his cause, the fate of press freedom in Ethiopia hangs precariously in the balance.
