The Ethiopian government has announced up to
five years jail time for any social media user that posts updates on the
growing political unrest of the country on Facebook.
This is one of the series of measures under a six-month “state
of emergency” recently declared by the government.
Since protests began a year ago, the government has imposed
a blanket ban on mobile Internet services and
restrictions on text message platforms like WhatsApp.
This is mainly to prevent people from organizing protests as
the government drives out Oromo and Amhara land owners in a bid to expand Addis Ababa.
Two Ethiopian TV stations based in the US, ESAT and the
Oromia Media Network, have also been banned. Similarly, access to foreign-based
media has been restricted, including Deutsche Welle and Voice of America, which
both have popular Amharic stations.
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