Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has resisted calls for mediation in the conflict

Africa

Reuters news agency condemns arrest of cameraman in Ethiopia

Nairobi, Kenya, Dec 28 – Ethiopian police arrested a Reuters cameraman at his home in Addis Ababa last week and have held him in custody without charge, the international news agency said Monday.

Kumerra Gemechu, 40, was handcuffed and taken away in front of his family last Thursday by 10 armed federal police officers who did not give a reason for his arrest, Reuters said in a statement.

“At a brief court hearing on Friday, where no lawyer was present, a judge ordered Kumerra’s detention for a further 14 days to give police time to investigate,” Kumerra’s family said as quoted by Reuters.

Reuters editor-in-chief Stephen J. Adler said the agency was not aware of any basis for Kumerra’s detention, and praised his fair and impartial reporting.

“Journalists must be allowed to report the news in the public interest without fear of harassment or harm, wherever they are,” Adler said on Twitter on Monday.

“We will not rest until Reuters cameraman Kumerra Gemechu is freed.”

His phone, a computer, and other electronic and personal items were seized during the arrest, his family said.

Kumerra had been reporting on the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on November 4 ordered the military to confront the ruling party of the dissident northern region.

Ethiopia restricted media access to the conflict-hit region and Tigray was under a total communications blackout for six weeks as the conflict raged between federal and regional forces.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The fighting in Tigray has left thousands dead, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank, and sent tens of thousands of refugees streaming across the border into Sudan.

“Kumerra covered the Tigray conflict, but Reuters was unable to determine whether his arrest was connected to his work. Government officials did not respond to questions from Reuters about whether his coverage was at issue,” the news agency said.

Reuters also said Kumerra’s arrest followed the beating of one of its photographers in Ethiopia by two federal police officers on December 16.

The Committee to Protect Journalists this month identified Ethiopia as a top jailor of reporters, saying at least seven media workers were behind bars in the Horn of Africa nation.

Most were accused of crimes against the state, the US-based watchdog said in its annual report, but authorities would keep extending their detention in order to investigate without producing evidence.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – In a significant development for the East African financial landscape, PayAngel, a global fintech company, has chosen Kenya as...

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been arrested in an investigation into claims of an extortion racket targeting...

NATIONAL NEWS

The prestigious event, known for honoring the continent's top young entrepreneurs and Chief Executive Officers under 40, will showcase Kenya's growing influence in the...

NATIONAL NEWS

NAKURU, Kenya, Mar 28 – The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Naivasha has acquitted Joshua Waiganjo of close to 10 charges against him. The offenses...

NATIONAL NEWS

President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Sports to work with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the WRC to make this a reality.

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – Small-scale traders and importers can now breath a sigh of relief after the Government ordered the release of their...

Sports

President William Ruto on Thursday officially flagged off the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi....

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 27 – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has approved the establishment of an employee protection unit for victims of sexual harassment...