Abducted Ethiopian editor released: publisher

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Addis Ababa: Million Beyene, the managing editor of the independent news site Addis Standard, has been released after being abducted by masked men in mid-April. 

The publisher, Jakenn Publishing, announced on Tuesday that Beyene was safely returned to his family, legal team, and colleagues. This follows an incident on April 15 where Beyene was taken from his newsroom by unidentified individuals in plain clothes for ‘questioning’ at an undisclosed location.

Security footage from the day of the abduction showed at least three masked men entering the office and escorting Beyene out. Despite inquiries to various police departments, all authorities initially denied having him in their custody.

 Jakenn Publishing has since blamed intelligence officers for the abduction, unequivocally rejecting what they described as an ‘ordeal’ suffered by the editor.

The incident highlights the volatile environment for media in Ethiopia, which currently ranks 145th out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. The Addis Standard itself had its operating license revoked by the government in February after being accused of undermining national interests. 

Jakenn Publishing emphasised that this abduction underscores the critical need to protect journalists from intimidation and unlawful detention.