Developing story: the suspension was announced on Monday 2 November. The newspaper has not yet publicly responded, as far as we have been able to confirm.
Ethiopian authorities have indefinitely suspended The Reporter, an independent newspaper that publishes in English and Amharic and runs an online news site. The Ethiopia Media Authority (EMA) announced the suspension, which took effect on Monday 2 November 2026.
What the regulator says
The EMA accused The Reporter of "repeatedly disseminating content that contradicts Ethiopia's national interests". It said the outlet published distorted information that harms foreign investment, tourism and diplomacy, and described its reports as "unbalanced and biased".
The regulator said the outlet "has been ordered to remain fully suspended from publication and broadcasting indefinitely" and gave no date for reinstatement, saying only that the suspension would last "until legal and professional ethical obligations are fully met".
Press freedom in Ethiopia
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks Ethiopia 148th of 180 countries in its press freedom index. The RSF says five journalists are currently detained in Ethiopia, four of whom have been held for almost three years and face terrorism charges that carry the death penalty, although capital punishment is rarely imposed.
In February, Ethiopia revoked the licence of another independent outlet, Addis Standard, which has appealed the decision. In June, the correspondent of a French daily was expelled.
What we do not yet know
The regulator has not said which articles triggered the suspension, or what the outlet must do to have it lifted. We have not confirmed whether The Reporter has appealed or responded, and we have not seen reaction from press freedom groups or governments. The EMA statement was announced on social media and we have not independently reviewed its full text.
