Ethiopia's selection to host World Press Freedom Day in 2019 symbolized a new era under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, with political reforms and press freedoms. However, the advent of war in Tigray led to severe restrictions, including a communication blackout and censorship. The situation deteriorated with public safety claims used to justify the repression of journalists. This decline is reflected in Ethiopia's ranking in the press freedom index, plummeting from 110th to 145th within two years due to state-sanctioned attacks on independent media.
Ethiopia was initially celebrated for progress in press freedom but saw a swift decline after conflict broke out, leading to mass arrests and censorship.
The outbreak of the Tigray conflict marked a turning point, with the government claiming national security as a pretext for suppressing independent journalism.
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