Media and the public sphere in Ethiopia: The impact of the “2018 political reform”

This study examines the evolving media landscape in Ethiopia, focusing on transformations following the 2018 leadership change under Abiy Ahmed. This study reveals a nuanced progression in Ethiopia’s media sphere using a mixed–methods approach, including semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and quantitative statistical analysis. The initial period showed promising developments, such as releasing imprisoned journalists and politicians and lifting website bans. However, these advancements proved temporary as authoritarian practices persisted. The government has modified legal frameworks, including media regulations, laws addressing disinformation and hate speech, and counterterrorism measures. These modifications appeared to reinforce government control rather than enhance media freedom. Journalists continue to face significant dangers, including arbitrary arrests, physical attacks, and forced flees. More than 54 journalists fled the country between 2018 and 2024, owing to threats and persecution. This pattern demonstrates that brief periods of optimism following leadership changes consistently follow authoritarian repression. The regression toward repression highlights deep-rooted challenges in Ethiopia’s political system and the difficulty of breaking established governance patterns. The government maintained strict control over the media environment, limiting freedom of expression and stifling opposition voices. This resulted in a highly regulated information landscape in which official narratives dominated the public discourse.