Ethiopia: A New Dawn for Press Freedom?

Ethiopia is at a tipping point for democracy and with it press freedom. Following the dramatic rise to power of Dr. Abiy Ahmed, his administration enacted democratic reforms, freed journalists and opponents, unblocked 264 websites and allowed banned TV stations to operate. Ethiopia was one of the worst jailers of journalists in the world. Many journalists who were imprisoned are on a personal journey towards press freedom. Award-winning journalists Woubshet Taye, Zone-9 blogger Befekadu Hailu and 90 year old Yacob Wolde-Mariam reflect on the progress from the regime of Emperor Haile Selassie to the ‘new era’ of media literacy, fake news and a new wave of journalist arrests. Will the newly awarded Nobel Peace Laureate be able to maintain the balance between national security and civil liberties in this new dawn for Ethiopia?