Three Ethiopian journalists investigating alleged illegal gold mining in northwestern Tigray have been released after being kidnapped, their organization confirmed on Sunday.
The reporters, employed by Tigrai Television, were abducted in the Asgede district under unclear circumstances while probing the environmental, health, and social effects of unregulated gold mining, following complaints from local residents.
The incident occurred in a region still reeling from a devastating two-year conflict between Ethiopian government forces—backed by regional militias and Eritrean troops—and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The war, which ended in 2022, left approximately 600,000 people dead, displaced over a million, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure.
Tigrai Television condemned the kidnapping on social media platform X, calling it a “direct attack on press freedom.” Hours later, Abel Tsgabu, a journalist at the outlet, confirmed the release of the three reporters, stating they were “fine” but offering no additional details.
The journalists’ ordeal highlights the risks faced by media professionals working in regions grappling with post-conflict instability and resource exploitation issues.