Freelance journalist working for AP detained in Ethiopia

A freelance video journalist working for The Associated Press has been detained by authorities in Ethiopia under the country’s new war-connected state of emergency authority.

Amir Aman Kiyaro was detained by police on Nov. 28 after arriving back in Ethiopia following a reporting trip. His apprehension was first announced by the AP on Wednesday.

He is currently not facing any charges, according to the AP.

State media reported on Kiyaro’s captivity on Wednesday, according to the AP. Federal police took issue with him interviewing a terrorist group, which they constitute as “serving the purposes” of the faction, the AP reported, citing state media.

Local journalists Thomas Engida and Addisu Muluneh have also reportedly been apprehended.

Federal police inspector Tesfaye Olani told state media that the three journalists breached the country’s state of emergency and anti-terrorism law, which could subject them to between seven and 15 years in detention, according to the AP.

AP Executive Editor Julie Pace said the news wire is “extremely concerned” that Kiyaro was “detained by the Ethiopian government, accused of promoting terrorism.”

She called the claims “baseless allegations,” and called for his release.

“Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important work in Ethiopia on all sides of the conflict. We call on the Ethiopian government to release Kiyaro immediately,” Pace wrote in a statement.

She also noted that the news wire held off on revealing news of Kiyaro’s detention until now so the AP could try to manage the situation through diplomatic channels.

A state of emergency was declared by the Ethiopian government in November following a year of war. Rival groups from the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia had teamed up with the Oromo Liberation Army — both of which were declared terrorist groups by the government — and neared the capital.

The emergency declaration reportedly authorized sweeping powers of detention. In November, the Ethiopian emergency command tried to bar journalists from covering the war by prohibiting the sharing of nonofficial information regarding “military-related movements, battlefront results and situations,” according to the AP.

Individuals from foreign media outlets have not been able to cover a majority of the war in Tigray, the AP noted, as communications have been cut off.

Tens of thousands of individuals have died in the war, which began in November 2020. The Tigray forces want the government to nix a blockage on their region and want Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to relinquish authority.

Kiyaro has reported on both sides of the conflict throughout the year on behalf of the AP, including reports of Tigray forces conducting mass killings, according to the news wire.