Ethiopian police lock up French journalist for ‘conspiracy to create chaos’

Nairobi — Ethiopian police have arrested a French journalist on suspicion of “conspiracy to create chaos”, his employer said on February 27 2024.

Antoine Galindo was arrested on February 22 while on assignment in the capital Addis Ababa, the Africa Intelligence publication said in a statement. It said a judge on February 24 prolonged Galindo’s detention until March 1.

Africa Intelligence said Galindo “has been suspected of ‘conspiracy to create chaos in Ethiopia’ and was brought before a judge on 24 February.” The publication said its lawyer attended the hearing and was told about the charges.

“Africa Intelligence condemns the unjustified arrest… and calls for his immediate release,” it said.

Spokespeople for Ethiopia’s government and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The French embassy in Addis Ababa did not respond to a request for comment.

A French diplomatic source said the foreign ministry was following his case and that Galindo had received several consular visits since his arrest to assess the conditions of his detention, his health and that his rights were being respected.

Human rights activists have repeatedly criticised Ethiopia’s restrictions on press freedom, particularly in response to critical coverage of conflicts and security crises.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says at least eight Ethiopian journalists have been detained since August 2023.

Foreign journalists have been expelled from Ethiopia or denied accreditations to work in recent years, but the last to be arrested were two Swedish journalists in 2011.

They were sentenced to 11 years in prison for helping and promoting a rebel group and entering the country illegally before being pardoned and released in 2012.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed freed dozens of jailed members of the media when he came to power in 2018 as part of a raft of political reforms.

But critics say his government has cracked down hard on dissent as civil conflicts, including a 2020-2022 war in the northern Tigray region, have broken out.

Abiy says he is guaranteeing stability and law and order in the multi-ethnic nation.

Reuters