Federal police accused the journalists in a statement late on Wednesday of "promoting terrorism" by interviewing members of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), which parliament has designated a terrorist group. The police statement identified the other detained journalists as independent cameraman Thomas Engida and Addisu Muluneh of the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting network. The journalists could face seven to 15 years behind bars for violating Ethiopia's state of emergency and anti-terrorism law, federal police Inspector Tesfaye Olani told state media. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 14 journalists have been arrested since a state of emergency was declared on November 2 this year. Asked about the latest arrests, Ethiopia's media regulator said police detained the three journalists for "violating the law of the land."

Source: Ethiopian News December 17, 2021 18:48 UTC