Ethiopian Journalist Ahmed Awga Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

May 30, 2025 – Ethiopia –

The Fafen Zone High Court in Jigjiga, Ethiopia, sentenced journalist Ahmed Awga, founder of Jigjiga Television Network (JTN), to two years in prison on charges of disseminating hateful information. The conviction stems from a Facebook post that Awga did not author but was tagged in, raising significant concerns about press freedom in the country.

Awga, whose legal name is Ahmed Abdi Omar, was arrested on April 23 following an interview he conducted with a man alleging that his 16-year-old son died after a police beating. Initially charged with incitement, the allegations were later amended to “propagation of disinformation and public incitement” under Ethiopia’s 2020 anti-hate speech law. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on a Facebook post from April 20, which criticized regional elections and accused officials of holding the population hostage. However, evidence reviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) indicates that the post originated from another account, and Awga was merely tagged in it. His posts did not contain the alleged inflammatory content.

Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, condemned the sentencing, stating, “Ahmed Awga’s conviction and two-year prison sentence, based on a Facebook post he didn’t write, is outrageous and a stark illustration of Ethiopia’s escalating assault on press freedom.” She urged Ethiopian authorities to cease using the legal system to silence critical voices.

This case is part of a broader crackdown on the media in Ethiopia. In April 2025 alone, at least six other journalists were arrested, coinciding with the government’s increased control over the Ethiopian Media Authority. These actions have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations concerned about the erosion of press freedoms in the country.

In a May 27 interview with the BBC’s Somali service, Somali Region President Mustafa Mohammed Omar defended the judiciary’s independence and denied that individuals were being jailed solely for online posts. He asserted that those detained faced charges related to harming the reputation of security agencies and spreading false information.

Awga’s sentencing underscores the challenges faced by journalists in Ethiopia and highlights the need for safeguarding freedom of expression and press rights in the country.

Reference – 

https://cpj.org/2025/05/ethiopian-journalist-ahmed-awga-sentenced-to-2-years-in-prison/

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1404674/ethiopian-journalist-ahmed-awga-sentenced-to-2.html

https://wardheernews.com/ethiopian-journalist-sentenced-two-years-jail/