The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the Ethiopian Media Authority’s temporary suspension of nine Deutsche Welle Amharic journalists and calls for the decision to be immediately reversed.

In a statement issued by the federation, the Ethiopian Media Authority accused the journalists of "violating professional ethics and violating the country's regulations."

The federation described this move as an act of intimidation aimed at silencing and restricting Ethiopians from obtaining independent information, especially about the conflict in the Amhara region, according to a report by Deutsche Welle.

“The suspension of Deutsche Welle journalists by the authorities is a deliberate act of intimidation to prevent Ethiopians from getting accurate reporting on the conflict in the Amhara region,” said Anthony Belanger, secretary general of the International Federation of Journalists.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged Ethiopian authorities to immediately and unconditionally reinstate the suspended Deutsche Welle journalists, end all forms of harassment of journalists, and ensure that they can carry out their work without fear or interference.