Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Update፡Two TBS TV Journalists Released After Detention in Axum
Two camera crew members from TBS TV were released from jail today after being detained for several days while reporting on a local governance story in the historic city of Axum, Tigray Region.
The journalists, were arrested late last week while filming a segment on concerns raised by local business owners about administrative practices in the region. Eyewitnesses said the crew was interviewing shopkeepers and documenting conditions in the city center when plainclothes security personnel intervened and detained them.
TBS TV confirmed the release in a statement issued today afternoon, saying the two crew members were “safe and in good health” and had returned to Mekelle. “We are relieved by their release and remain committed to providing accurate and responsible journalism across the country,” the statement read.
Local officials have not yet commented publicly on the reasons for the arrest, but sources close to the matter indicated that the crew may have been detained for filming in areas considered sensitive without prior clearance. Media watchdog organizations, however, criticized the detentions as part of a broader trend of press restrictions in conflict-affected regions.
“We welcome the release of the TBS TV crew, but we are deeply concerned about the continued harassment of journalists in Ethiopia,” said a spokesperson for the Committee to Protect Journalists. “Journalists must be free to report without fear of arbitrary arrest or detention.”
Axum, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been a focal point of recent political and humanitarian attention as the region rebuilds from past conflict. Local business owners interviewed for the segment reportedly voiced concerns about lack of transparency and inefficiencies in public service delivery.
TBS TV said it will continue its coverage of governance and development issues in the region, while urging authorities to respect press freedoms and ensure journalist safety.
As of Monday evening, there were no formal charges filed against the two journalists.
