Ethiopia Suspends Registration of The Reporter Publisher Indefinitely

November 3, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) has indefinitely suspended the registration certificate of Media and Communication Centre PLC, publisher of The Reporter and The Reporter English newspapers, ordering a complete halt to their printing, publication and online distribution.

The suspension, effective Monday, also covers content distributed through the Ethiopian Reporter digital platform, according to a statement issued by the authority.

EMA said the decision followed more than a year of monitoring content published by the media organisation, during which it identified repeated violations of media laws and professional journalistic ethics.

The authority accused the publications of repeatedly disseminating content it said contradicted Ethiopia's national interests, sensationalising politically, socially and economically sensitive issues through headlines and reporting, and presenting information without sufficient context.

It also alleged that the publications circulated distorted information that could negatively affect foreign investment, tourism and diplomacy, as well as content it said undermined national security, social cohesion and the country's image.

Other violations cited by the authority included biased and unbalanced reporting and the publication of unverified information that allegedly damaged the reputations of institutions for personal or private interests.

EMA said it had held repeated discussions with the media organisation's owner and editors-in-chief over the past year and issued a final warning, but found insufficient improvement in the content being published.

The authority said the suspension would remain in place until the publisher fulfilled its legal and professional obligations under Media Proclamation No. 1238/2021.

The order affects both the Amharic and English editions of The Reporter, as well as the publisher's digital operations. It did not specify a timeframe for reviewing the suspension or conditions for reinstating the registration beyond compliance with the stated obligations.

The decision places the future of one of Ethiopia's established privately owned newspaper publishers in question, with the suspension affecting both its print and digital distribution operations.

Source: FSX Business News