Ethiopia’s Media, Ethnic Tensions: Washington Post

Ethiopia is undergoing tremendous transformation as the newly installed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pushes for broad free speech rights. This has led to a resurgence of a free press and outspoken journalists. The country, only recently embarking on its journey to mend ethnic conflicts and land disputes, faces a dilemma between social stability and free speech protection. Ethiopia will hold an election in 2020, the first free one in more than a decade, raising concerns about an “extreme” press along with a flood of fake news and hate speech. Some analysts note that some news stories are factually incorrect, especially those linked to ethnic conflicts, and others are biased. While the government claims that it remains committed to press freedom, some quietly worry whether, like previous regimes, it will resort to oppression. – YaleGlobal