Ethiopia's Largest Ethnicity Group Deprived of Linguistic and Cultural Sensitive Media Outlets

Press Release: RAP21 - October 3, 2008

"The current Ethiopian state can only be compared to apartheid South Africa, where similar unjust practices happened," said a refugee Oromo journalist abroad, who wanted to remain anonymous, to RAP 21.

"As opposed to South Africa [today], our country does not have any respect for the linguistic and cultural diversity of the people. The ruling languages (Amharic and Tigre), which really are minority languages, are imposed on almost 80 percent of the country's population, including Oromos," he claimed. The implications on the media, he said, are "vast and intimidating."

The journalist spoke of the government as "a debilitating cancer for the Oromo media," as evidenced with the closure of Wanchif, Seifa Nebelbal and Urji newspapers, Tomar magazine and Oromo Television [among a number of other smaller and uncountable publications and broadcasts]. The employees of such media outlets have been forced into exile or have been put behind bars. "There are more Oromo journalists in the Diaspora than there are at home because of the exodus," he said. Read More.