NAIROBI - Ethiopian authorities have taken steps to remove reporting privileges from Reuters inside the capital, declining to renew accreditation for three Addis Ababa-based journalists and rescinding the news agency's access to cover the African Union summit slated for February 14-15.
The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) communicated that it would not renew the credentials of the three Reuters journalists working out of Addis Ababa. In addition to those credential decisions, the EMA revoked Reuters' accreditation to report on the 39th African Union summit being held in the Ethiopian capital on February 14-15.
This enforcement of accreditation coincides with a recent investigative article published by Reuters on February 10. That piece reported that Ethiopia was hosting a clandestine camp intended to train thousands of fighters for the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group operating in neighbouring Sudan. The EMA has, according to informal indications, linked its accreditation decisions to that February 10 story, but it has not issued a formal public statement explaining the action.
Ethiopian authorities have not provided an official public response to the investigative report itself. Attempts to obtain comment from the EMA were not immediately successful; the authority could not immediately be reached for a statement.
Reuters issued a brief response to the accreditation revocation, stating: "Reuters is reviewing the matter and will continue to cover Ethiopia in an independent, impartial and reliable way in keeping with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles." The agency's statement framed its intent to maintain coverage despite the loss of accreditation for certain staff and for the AU summit.
The decisions by the EMA affect Reuters' ability to operate with accredited staff in Addis Ababa and to maintain institutional access for a major continental event taking place in the city. The EMA's informal attribution of its action to the February 10 article has not been formalised in any public document or press release.
The situation remains one in which official public communications from Ethiopian authorities are limited; Reuters has signalled it will continue coverage under its stated editorial principles while reviewing the implications of the accreditation changes.
Summary of developments
- EMA refused to renew accreditation for three Reuters journalists based in Addis Ababa.
- EMA revoked Reuters' accreditation to cover the 39th African Union summit scheduled for February 14-15 in Addis Ababa.
- The EMA has informally linked its decision to a February 10 Reuters investigative report alleging a secret training camp for Rapid Support Forces fighters; no formal EMA statement has been issued.
- Reuters said it is reviewing the situation and will continue covering Ethiopia in line with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles; the EMA could not immediately be reached for comment.