Freedom of the Press Under FDRE: The Challenges of Constitutionalism

Freedom of the press is the bed rock for flourishment of democracy usually it is considered as the fourth
branch of government. Freedom of the press is now universally recognized as an essential ingredient of a
durable and fully democratic order. It is white and black; the test of democracy is rely on freedom of
criticism. That is why the Ethiopia’s Constitution and several laws stipulated various press related rights to
protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press such as the right to hold opinions without
interference; the right to freedom of expression without any interference; freedom of the press and other
mass media including the prohibition of any form of censorship; and access to information of public interest
among other rights. The government maintains that it is protecting press freedom through the Press Law
and points out that it has not banned any publication. However, in practice the government act against not
only press law but also the provision of the constitution. The government simply introduce the liberal law of
the press as a Cover for Restricting Media. The treatment of writers, journalists, and bloggers are the
critical human rights issues now a days in the country, including a lack of press freedom, arbitrary
detention, an inability to access government information, suppression of peaceful association and assembly,
and restrictive laws and policies regarding the internet and digital. Hence, the main aim of this study is to
examine historical development of press and freedom of press in Ethiopia predominantly the
implementation of press freedom under FDRE in light of constitutionalism and press law and its role for the
realization of good governance and democratic process, and examine the systematic and democratic
constraints of the freedom of the press since the adoption of FDRE constitution.