New York, June 19, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities to immediately release journalist Salsawit Baynesagn or bring her before a court, disclose any charges against her, and ensure that she is not being held in retaliation for her commentary.
Her family told CPJ that they suspect her detention is linked to videos she posted recently on
TikTok
,
Facebook
, and
YouTube
about the
killing
of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in Arsi Zone, in Oromia regional state. In
the
videos
, she criticized the government, religious leaders, and the public for what she described as silence over the violence.
“Salsawit Baynesagn’s detention without charge or without being brought before a court within 48 hours is a serious violation of her rights and a warning to Ethiopian journalists covering sensitive public issues,” said CPJ Africa Director Angela Quintal. “Ethiopian authorities must release Salsawit immediately or promptly bring her before a court and disclose any charges against her.”
Police arrested Salsawit at her home in Addis Ababa on June 8 after telling her she was wanted for questioning, her sister Haymanot Baynesagn told CPJ. Salsawit has not appeared in court, and authorities have not disclosed any charges or specific allegations against her, Haymanot said.
Salsawit was first held for two days in a temporary detention facility, where relatives were denied access, before being transferred to the Addis Ababa police commission, also known as Sostegna, according to her family and
media
reports
.
Salsawit worked for the state-affiliated media outlet Walta TV in 2018 and later joined the Fana Media Corporation before leaving in November 2025 to
produce
her own independent commentary on social media.
On June 16, Salsawit’s family filed a habeas corpus application seeking her release. Her lawyer, Zewdu Bekele,
said
Ethiopian law requires detainees to be brought before a court within 48 hours and informed of the alleg
