Ethiopia bans 15 media outlets operating in Somali regional state

The Ethiopian federal government has suspended 15 foreign media outlets operating in the country’s eastern Somali regional state, reports say.

The country’s media authority, EMA, ordered the suspension because the media in questions have been allegedly operating without license.

EMA has instructed Somali Region Communications Bureau to take action.

The Media include BBC Somali and Universal TV. The EMA in a letter argued that it found out in an investigation that there were media outlet representatives and journalists who operated in Somali state without license and therefore in breach of the law.

The move follows recent sour relation between independent journalists and the regional authorities.

The Ethiopian regional journalists’ association claimed the suspension was taken in retaliation to media reports on corruption among other things.