Stories about Ethiopia
Global Voices Welcomes the Release of Zone9 Bloggers, Pledges to Keep Fighting for Free Expression in Ethiopia
"Supporters have built incredible momentum around the #FreeZone9Bloggers hashtag. Let's use this to keep moving forward, pushing to protect human rights in Ethiopia and around the world."
Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Acquitted of Terror Charges
Many supporters on Twitter put words like "acquittal", "court" and "judiciary" in quotation marks to emphasize the degree to which the case exposed Ethiopia's failed judicial system.
Zone9 Bloggers Are Not Alone: More Ethiopian Netizens Face Terrorism Charges
Alongside the now-famous case of the Zone9 bloggers, there are many detained Ethiopian bloggers, online activists and politicians whose names are not yet on the map.
Inside the Trial of Zone9 Bloggers: 16 Months and Counting
The Zone9 bloggers' trial continues, with relatives prevented from documenting the proceedings, and frequent adjournments in court obstructing the progress of justice. Read Endalk Chala's latest report.
Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Head Back to Court After 15 Months Behind Bars
The Zone9ers' trial has been postponed 33 times, for reasons ranging from the banal to the bizarre. They may finally learn their fate this Wednesday, at their next court date.
Netizen Report: You Can’t Encrypt, But We Can Spy
"...the revelations have touched a nerve with certain Global Voices community members who are now virtually certain that their own communications devices were infected and monitored using Hacking Team spyware."
What You Need to Know About Ethiopia v. Zone9 Bloggers: Verdict Expected July 20
Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers have appeared in court 30 times in 15 months, and been adjourned each time. "This is no anomaly in Ethiopia’s highly compromised judiciary system," says Endalk Chala.
Ethiopians React to Bloggers’ Release With Compassion, Criticism
Supporters of the Zone9 blogging collective are expressing both joy and bitterness at the release of some -- but not all -- of the bloggers from prison last week.
Netizen Report: Ethiopians Demand Release of All Jailed Journalists Approaching Obama Visit
As five of the Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers walk free, with four still in prison, Venezuela blames Internet outages on protesters and Arab activists respond to the Hacking Team hack.
Five Ethiopian Journalists Freed From Prison, But Others Remain Behind Bars
Alongside an outpouring of joy and disbelief over the bloggers' release, supporters urged each other to keep "tantrummin" until there are no more journalists jailed in Ethiopia.
Edom Kassaye: An Ethiopian Journalist Jailed for Her Integrity
"I believe it was Edom’s willingness to bring about change in Ethiopia’s polarized political environment that suggested an affinity between her and the Zone9 blogging collective. We shared common principles."
Abel Wabela: “To Fight Bystander Apathy…This is My Mission as a Human”
"Warnings, intimidations, arrest and torture have not stopped me from exercising my free speech rights," says Abel Wabela, one of Ethiopia's Zone9 bloggers who have been jailed since April 2014.
An Official White House Visit to Ethiopia? Africans Tell Obama ‘Don't Do It!’
Despite recent elections that swept the one opposition member from parliament, US President Barack Obama is planning a visit to Ethiopia.
Long After the African Union’s Golden Jubilee: A Letter to Jailed Blogger Natnael Feleke
"I think of your particular fate and wonder how any of us who are free continue to go about our lives as if there’s nothing to lose."
Arbitrary Arrests, Cybercrime, and Mass Mobile Adoption: Monitoring Digital Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa
Global Voices speaks to Tom Rhodes, the East Africa representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, about the state of freedom of expression online in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Befeqadu Hailu: An Ethiopian Writer Who Refused to Remain Silent
In the words of Wole Soyinka, “books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth.” Befequadu is in jail because he writes.
Tagline of Zelalem Kiberet’s Blog: ‘Let Freedom Ring’
Because of his wit, humorous writings and uncompromising digs on religion, his friends nicknamed Zelalem after the imminent French writer, Zola.
Message to an Ethiopian Blogger: Mahlet Fantahun, You Are Not Alone
"Writing one single blog post is not going to bring Mahlet... out of Kaliti Prison. This is much rather about keeping the process going. Of not staying silent."
Ethiopian Blogger Atnaf Berahane: Young, Courageous, and in Jail
This 26-year-old Ethiopian blogger's passion for free speech left him in chains.
“We Cannot Trample Upon the Humanity of Others Without Devaluing Our Own”
The Zone9 bloggers' crime was that they dared to live out "Ubuntu". They promoted their community above individualistic concerns.