Journalist Getiye Yalew leaves Ethiopia in threat of government attack
After a repeatedly arrests and harassments Getiye Yalew, war correspondent and news analyst to Ethio 360 media leaves his home country Ethiopia. Crossing the Ethiopia-Kenyan border through the way to Moyale, he arrived in Uganda, in July 19, 2025. Seeking asylum he has registered at the office of UN in Kampala. Below is some detail of his background:
Getiye Yalew is an Ethiopian journalist, mostly based in Addis Ababa. He was born in September 21, 1993 in kedemt Lalibela, Achefer wondeye, Gojjam, Amhara province. He attended primary and secondary school in Kedemt Lalibela and Yismala Giorgis. He has earned Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism and Communications at Bahir Dar University in 2015 academic year.
Getiye Yalew has served in different web, print and broadcast news outlets. He is a a political news analyst and war correspondent at Ethio 360 satellite TV, he was a correspondent to Mereja TV, Getiye was a reporter to Ahadu radio 94.3 FM and Abay FM 102.9 radio, Columnist to Fiteh magazine, editor to Ethiopis newspaper, blogger to Wenchif online newspaper, blogger to EthioReference. . .
Getiye Yalew has covered the war held between the government and Amhara popular self defense force named Fano from the war front. He is civilian centered war correspondent and well balanced analyst.
For his journalism duties Getiye repeatedly faced harassments, accusations and arrests by the Ethiopian authorities. The following are some of his sufferings:
–August 17, 2021 (about four months imprisonment)
This accusation was because of his court report about the political prisoners including a world wide prominent journalist Eskinder Nega. Also Eskinder was his colleague at that time. Getiye questioned the impartiality of the court in a report. So, the court it self accused him and sentenced four months arrest. It is anti journalism act.
The court was directing reporters about how to report. It says “reporters must report only judicial proceedings. Observational reports are not allowed” And Getiye Yalew strongly refused it. On his analysis he said that “the role of the court is to interpret the existing law. But not drafting a new law. To establish the law is a role of the parliament”
Therefore, he was arrested for this criticism. It is against press freedom.
-March 23, 2022 (about 40 days imprisonment)
Nationally Ethiopians were celebrating the Ogaden victory day in march 23, 2022 and journalist Getiye Yalew was reporting the celebration. However, while he was filming the setting, police arrested him in Addis Ababa, Lideta police station. Days later they moved him to Aba Samuel prison station, which is located at periphery of Addis Ababa. In front of the federal high court Anti terrorism and constitutional case court, the Ethiopian government accused him by terrorism proclamation. But Getiye was only doing his journalistic duties.
After 40 days stay in prison he was freed by money guarantee but the case is still pending. If police can capture him, its lawyers will renew this accusation.
-October 1, 2020 to October 5, 2020
At this time police subdued Getiye Yalew at his office and taken him to Akaki Kaliti district police station, Addis Ababa. Even though law enforced them to bring him in front of court with in 48 hours, police did not taken him to the court. Just they abducted him for five days and released unconditionally. But during his stay they beaten and harassed him.
While he was released the government’s intelligence man told him as he was subdued because of his article, published in Fiteh magazine. This article was entitled as “The leaderless Amhara people”. It covers the Metekel massacre, that ethnic Amharas were massacred by Oromo Liberation Army, at a time reportedly supported by the government. This is why he was arrested.
-May 26, 2019 to May 27, 2019
He was arrested in Sendafa police station, Oromia regional state and freed before taken to court unconditionally.
Here, the reason why be was detained is that Getiye highly criticized the Oromo regional state. But the immediate case was that he exposed the corrupted Sendafa’s court and police.
-June, 2021
Getiye Yalew was arrested for 3 months in Kaliti, a well known federal prison. After three months imprisonment he was freed, because he had finished which the court sentenced on him.
This arrest was because of his article published in Ethiopis newspaper. It covered the abduction of Dembi Dolo University female students. These 17 abducted girls were ethnic Amharas and they are abducted by Oromo forces, reportedly supported by government structures.
This is why he was accused by anti terrorism law.
–May, 2022
As of May, 2022, he is facing pending criminal accusations brought forth by the Ethiopian government. A court order was issued authorizing federal police to arrest him at any time and in any place, with the instruction to present Getiye before the court. Consequently, he has been actively pursued by the police. However, he was able to avoid arrest due to his earlier internal migration.
Should he be apprehended at any point in the future, it is expected that the government will revive or renew these charges against the journalist.
The charges outlined by the Ethiopian regime are as follows:
A. Crime Against the Government
The government, through its legal representatives, has accused him—Getiye Yalew Jemere—of committing a crime against the state during a political discussion broadcasted on RAS Media’s YouTube channel. The government claims that:
• He openly opposed the constitution and the constitutional order.
• He encouraged civil unrest with the intention of overthrowing the government.
• He called for mass protests and promoted the idea that power should lie in the hands of the people, not a select group of officials.
These statements, cited directly from the government’s charge sheet written in Amharic, are being used as evidence that he aimed to dismantle both the federal and regional governments.
However, his political commentary was centered around expressing the will of the people. He criticized the existing governmental system, constitutional flaws, and widespread corruption among officials. These accusations, therefore, appear to be an attack on freedom of speech and freedom of the press—not genuine criminal offenses.
B. Violation of the Hate Speech and Disinformation Proclamation
The government further accuses him of inciting hatred toward the Oromo ethnic group, which includes Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. In his commentary, however, Getiye simply advocated for fair ethnic representation within the national army. The journalist never engaged in ethnic scorn or incitement. His statements were rooted in the pursuit of equity, not hate.
C. Violation of Local Criminal Code – Articles 32/A & 337
Another charge accuses him of:
• Promoting disobedience within the national defense forces.
• Supporting Fano, a self-organized ethnic Amhara defense group.
• Disseminating what the government refers to as “confusing” information.
In his analysis, journalist Getiye Yalew merely criticized the disproportionate ethnic composition of the national army, emphasizing the dominance of one group. This was a factual critique aimed at fostering inclusivity and balance—not disobedience or instability.
D. Violation of the Computer Crime Proclamation
The government’s lawyers reiterated the above charges and applied them under provisions of the Computer Crime Proclamation, essentially duplicating the same accusations in a digital context.
Generally, these accusations are politically motivated and designed to criminalize dissent. His analyses and opinions were expressed through peaceful, lawful channels with the sole intent of advocating for democracy, justice, equality, and rule of law in Ethiopia. Getiye stands by his right to freedom of expression as enshrined in international human rights law.