In what has become the new normal, the Ethiopian government has silenced yet another independent media outlet.

The Ethiopian Media Authority announced in a November 2 Facebook post that it is indefinitely suspending the print and online license of the Reporter , one of Ethiopia’s oldest media institutions. Publishing in English and Amharic, the Reporter is also the country’s last privately owned Amharic newspaper.

Stating that the suspension would take effect immediately, the Media Authority accused the Reporter of violating the country’s laws and media ethics by repeatedly publishing content that was against “national interests.” The authority added that the outlet published “distorted content that negatively affects foreign investment, tourism, and diplomacy.”

The action is part of the government’s ongoing assault on the media and civic space in the country and points toward increasing use of vague claims about “ national interests ” to shut down any critical reporting.

Since 2025 , Ethiopian…