Million Beyene, the Managing Editor of the prominent Ethiopian digital outlet Addis Standard, was forcibly taken from his workplace on the morning of April 15, 2026, by a group of unidentified men dressed in plainclothes, some wearing caps and face masks. The men told him he was required for questioning before escorting him to an unknown location. As of this writing, his whereabouts remain undisclosed.
The incident was confirmed by Jakenn Publishing PLC, the parent company of Addis Standard, which issued an official statement condemning what it described as an abduction. According to the statement, security camera footage from April 15 captured at least three men moving through the building’s stairwell in what the outlet described as a deliberate and coordinated manner.
In a desperate effort to trace their editor, Jakenn’s leadership and legal team contacted four separate police stations and departments across Addis Ababa, all of which denied holding the journalist. Senior surveillance officers within both the Addis Ababa Police Commission and the Federal Police Commission stated that the individuals seen in the security footage were not members of their respective forces. Federal Police Commission communications head Jeylan Abdi explicitly confirmed via WhatsApp that Million was not in federal custody, while directing further inquiries to Addis Ababa police. A spokesperson for the Addis Ababa police, Markos Tadesse, referred the matter to the force’s public relations head, Thomas Eshete, who said he had no information to offer.
“The taking of Million Beyene by unidentified individuals is unacceptable and deeply troubling,” said Yonas Kedir, Editor-in-Chief of Addis Standard. “We call for his immediate release, and we urge authorities to act swiftly to ensure his safety and uphold the rule of law.”
The abduction has drawn swift international condemnation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), responding from Nairobi on April 16, called on Ethiopian authorities to do everything in their power to locate and free Beyene. CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Muthoki Mumo described the incident as a disturbing new chapter for the outlet, particularly in light of the Ethiopian Media Authority’s decision in February 2026 to revoke Addis Standard’s operating license, citing reports that allegedly conflicted with national interests.
Jakenn Publishing formally called on the Addis Ababa Police, the Federal Police Commission, and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Beyene’s disappearance and to ensure his prompt and safe return.
The incident occurs with Ethiopia’s June 1, 2026 general election on the horizon, amid a broader pattern of escalating pressure on independent media outlets in the country. In February, an Agence France-Presse journalist was also blocked from traveling to the Tigray region.
Sources: Addis Standard (addisstandard.com) — “CPJ calls for release of Addis Standard editor seized by unidentified men” and “Statement on the abduction of Addis Standard Managing Editor by plainclothes men from his workplace”; Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org); The Reporter Ethiopia (thereporterethiopia.com).
