Ethiopia has released a French journalist who was detained for a week by the authorities, his employer said on Monday. The journalist, Simon Bozonnet, works for the French radio station RFI and was covering the conflict in the northern Tigray region.
Bozonnet was arrested on February 22 in the town of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, along with two other journalists, one from Agence France-Presse (AFP) and one from the Financial Times. They were accused of violating the state of emergency and working without accreditation, charges that they denied.
The two other journalists were released on February 27, but Bozonnet remained in custody until Monday, when he was flown to the capital Addis Ababa and then to Nairobi, Kenya. He was reunited with his colleagues and family, and expressed his relief and gratitude.
“I am very happy to be free and to have been able to join my colleagues and friends,” Bozonnet said in a statement released by RFI. “I thank all those who supported me and helped me during this difficult ordeal.”
RFI’s director, Cécile Mégie, welcomed Bozonnet’s release and thanked the French authorities and the media organizations that intervened on his behalf. She also called for the respect of press freedom and the safety of journalists in Ethiopia.
“We are relieved and delighted that Simon Bozonnet is finally free and that he can resume his work as a journalist,” Mégie said. “We reiterate our call for the Ethiopian authorities to guarantee the freedom and security of all journalists, both local and foreign, who are reporting on the situation in Tigray and elsewhere in the country.”
Ethiopia has been mired in a civil war since November 2020, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the former ruling party of the region. The conflict has killed thousands of people, displaced millions, and triggered a humanitarian crisis.
The Ethiopian government has imposed a media blackout and restricted access to the region, making it difficult to verify the facts and the extent of the violence. Several journalists have been arrested, harassed, or expelled by the authorities, while others have faced threats and attacks from armed groups.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union, has urged Ethiopia to end the hostilities, respect human rights, and allow humanitarian and media access to Tigray. They have also offered to mediate and facilitate dialogue and reconciliation among the parties.
Ethiopia has said that it is committed to restoring peace and stability in Tigray, and that it is investigating allegations of atrocities and abuses committed by its forces and their allies. It has also said that it is working to improve the humanitarian and security situation in the region, and to address the grievances and demands of the people.
Despite the challenges, some analysts say there is still hope for Ethiopia to overcome the crisis and to preserve its unity and diversity, if the government and the opposition engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue, and if the media and the civil society play a positive and constructive role in informing and educating the public.
Source: Reuters
