#Ethiopia 🇪🇹 CPJ calls on Ethiopian authorities to release five journalists who have spent three years in jail awaiting trial for reporting on unrest in Amhara region. Gobeze Sisay, Meskerem Abera, Genet Asmamaw, and Dawit Begashaw were detained in April 2023 and face terrorism charges, for which they could face the death penalty, if found guilty.
In February 2026, a federal court ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence for their joint case to proceed. But repeated adjournments have pushed the hearing to November 19, following the court’s August-to-October recess, their lawyers told CPJ.
Separately, Abay Zewdu was detained on August 10, 2023, a week after authorities declared a state of emergency in response to the Amhara insurgency. The court has yet to decide whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence for his case to proceed. Hearings are due to resume on October 16.
Prolonged pretrial detention and repeated judicial delays effectively amount to punishment without conviction, damaging both bodies and minds. Ethiopian authorities must not treat journalists as terrorists and must ensure prompt, fair, and transparent proceedings that respect their rights to due legal process.
Read more: https://t.co/ywWPHH4VAe
⚡️TPLF forces abduct Amhara youth in Raya-Bala and Raya-Alamata Woredas (📍North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia) for forced military conscription.
🔴 In Raya-Bala Woreda, TPLF forces abducted more than eight civilians, including youths, during a nighttime operation on July 1st. Those taken include Molla Hayelom, Abera Adane Tekle, Halafi Lemma, Mekonnen Meles, Molalign Alelign Misganaw, Kassahun Wondimu, Tigabu Eyasu, and Hayelom Tigabu, alongside several other unidentified residents. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
🔴 In Raya-Alamata Woreda, TPLF forces abducted five young men from Timuga town during a separate nighttime operation: Shambel Alemu, Basha Tafere, Alemu Getaneh, Abebe Yirga, and Solomon Belay. They were transferred to military training camps for compulsory recruitment.
🔴 The abductions form part of an escalating forced conscription campaign across Raya woredas and urban centers under TPLF control, targeting Amhara residents who are not active participants in the conflict.
🔴 The incidents add to broader concerns over forced military recruitment and abuses against civilians in northern Ethiopia.
#Amhara_War_Updates
⚡️TPLF forces detain Ethiopian Orthodox clergy amid continued arrests targeting Amhara civilians in Alamata City (📍North Wollo Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia).
🔴 Between June 26th and 28th, TPLF forces carried out arbitrary detentions targeting clergy affiliated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) in Alamata City.
🔴 On June 26th, TPLF forces detained Priest Deribew Getahun, who served at Debre-Mikael Kidanemihret Church. On June 28th, they also detained Deacon Abebe Desalew, who served at the same church.
🔴 The arrests were described as part of a continued pattern of detentions, torture, and harassment targeting ethnic Amhara and EOTC-affiliated civilians.
🔴 As of June 28th, no further information had been released regarding the legal status or whereabouts of the detained clergy.
#Amhara_War_Updates
⚡️Death toll from regime drone strikes on Zato Primary School rises to 31 civilians killed, with 8 others injured in July 1st attack on Bethlehem Kebele, Tach-Gayint Woreda (📍South Gonder Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia).
#Amhara_War_Updates
Last year, world leaders allowed a brutal Sudanese militia to overrun the city of El Fasher and massacre people in it. Now that same militia, the RSF, is besieging the city of El Obeid and is poised to slaughter the half a million people inside. Good for @unreliefchief and others for speaking up.
The best hope, I think, for avoiding mass atrocities is for President Trump to call on the UAE -- which backs the RSF -- and insist it tell the RSF to back off. Trump's family does business with senior Emiratis, and the US provides weapons to the UAE. We have leverage. But neither Biden nor Trump was willing to use the leverage and speak publicly about the UAE financing a Sudanese militia that has engaged in mass murder and mass rape. And if we remain silent, there will be another slaughter soon in El Obeid.
⚡️ℹ️ #UPDATE: AAA has learned that on June 29th, 2026, Oromo Prosperity Party regime soldiers arrested and harassed numerous civilians (family members) in Mehal-Wonz Kebele of Ankober Woreda.
📍 North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
https://t.co/oONLZOlRwK
@SirakBahlbi He is very good at humiliating those who crossed him once. Image how Getachew described Abiy! የፖለቲካ ድንክ እና እብድ ነው። Abiy wants the world to see Getachew kneeling down