Addis Standard Locked Out of Ethiopia Election Coverage After Journalists Denied Accreditation

Ethiopia, June 01, 2026 - As millions of Ethiopians cast their ballots in the country's 7th General Election, one of Ethiopia's best-known independent media outlets says it has been prevented from covering the vote after authorities declined to accredit its journalists.

In a statement addressed to readers on Election Day, Addis Standard said it was unable to provide the field reporting coverage it had prepared for the national vote following what it described as an "unjustified" decision by the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) to revoke the publication's registration certificate.

According to the outlet, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) subsequently declined to issue accreditation badges to ten journalists and two camera crew members whose names had been formally submitted for election coverage.

"We regret to inform you that Addis Standard is unable to provide the election day field reporting coverage we had prepared and intended to deliver," the newsroom said in its statement.

The publication argued that the accreditation denial was not an isolated administrative decision but part of what it described as a broader pattern of actions that have increasingly constrained its operations.

"This outcome is not an isolated administrative decision. Rather, it reflects a broader and sustained pattern of institutional actions that have systematically constrained and disabled our work," Addis Standard stated.

The development comes on a day when Ethiopia is conducting one of the largest electoral exercises on the African continent, with more than 54 million registered voters expected to elect representatives to the federal parliament and regional state councils.

Election officials have described the polls as a significant milestone in Ethiopia's democratic journey, while regional and international observer missions, including those from the African Union and IGAD, have been monitoring the voting process.

Earlier in the day, African Union Election Observation Mission head and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta praised the opening stages of the election, saying the process had begun smoothly.

"So far, we can say that the process has started, it is moving, it is flowing, and we hope it continues like that for the rest of the day," Kenyatta said while observing polling stations in Addis Ababa.

The restrictions facing Addis Standard have nevertheless reignited debate over media freedom and access to information during a critical democratic exercise.