Amnesty International has urged the Ethiopian government to immediately and unconditionally release three journalists detained for reporting the conflict in Amhara regional state.

In a release published on March 14, the human right defender announced that many journalists have been arrested by the Ethiopian government since the conflict in the country’s Amhara region broke out in April last year.

On 13 November 2023, Belay Manaye, co- founder and presenter of Ethio News, a YouTube based news channel, was arrested in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, by a group of uniformed police officers and other security personnel dressed in civilian clothing, according to the release.

To date, he has not been questioned or informed of the reason for his arrest and detention, although it is believed to be in connection to his reporting on the conflict in Amhara, it adds.

Under the state of emergency, the Ethiopian government has arbitrarily arrested seven other journalists in response to the conflict in the Amhara region and released few.

“The Ethiopian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Belay Manaye and the two other journalists who have been detained in connection to their work under the state of emergency,” Amnesty said.

Belay Manaye is the co- founder of Ethio News, a YouTube based news channel, serving as both its chief editor and presenter. He was previously arrested in 2020 on allegations of inciting violence. He was released 46 days laterwithout being formally charged.

On 2 February 2024, Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives endorsed an extension of the state of emergency, which came into force in 4 August 2023 amid escalating violence in Amhara region between government forces and Fano militia.

Since then, the nationwide state of emergency has given authorities sweeping powers to arrest suspects without a court warrant, impose curfews, restrict the right to freedom of movement, and ban public assemblies or associations.

In Ethiopia, consecutive authorities used the state of emergency law to silence peaceful dissent by arbitrarily detaining prominent politicians critical of the government and journalists.

The current administration also frequently resorted to this old tactic as at least five high profile politicians and three journalists have been arrested and remain detained without charge under the state of emergency, according to their family members.

On Thursday, country’s parliament that has been beside Abiy’s administration in every measure, has revoked the impunity of its member Christian Tadele, who is known for challenging the prime minister in the parliament until he got arrested about 8 months ago in line with the conflict in Amhara region.

Awash Arba military camp where Belay Manaye is currently being held has been used by previous and current Ethiopian governments to detain journalists, opposition politicians, and others en masse. The camp is infamous for its detention conditions, including lack of food, clean water, poor sanitation, and reports of torture.