Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ousted Zeray Asgedom who served as director general of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA) for five years, in the latest upheaval of change of guards of the agency that has mandate to regulate the broadcasting and press industry in Ethiopia. The move was seen as the new Prime Minister’s efforts to impose order on a media scene riven with factions and backbiting, yet remains to be seen what it means for freedom of the press and media in the country.
Zeray Asgedom made unwelcome headlines last year after having exchanges with the government communications minister, Negeri Lencho when the latter criticised Zami FM radio and television broadcaster, Ethiopia News Network (ENN), both with close affinity to Tigray People’s Liberation Front, for exaggerating and fanning the spiralling conflict in Oromia region and showing it as weakness of the region’s security and law enforcement forces. Zeray Asgedom, a TPLF member himself, came out with a statement saying that Negeri’s remark was his own personal opinion and didn’t reflect the official line, which made much furore. Zeray had also angered many when he attacked the Oromia’ region’s broadcaster, Oromia Broadcasting Network (OBN) for transmitting the live music show of the hugely popular and a flag-waver for the Oromo opposition, Hachalu Hundessa. Abiy Ahmed then was board chairman of the OBN, a fact that has not been lost on many of Twitter and Faebook commentators, including the influential activist Jawar Mohammed who said “It would have been poetic justice if he was replaced by Hachalu Hundessa.”

A tweet from Michael C. Mammo reads.

https://twitter.com/Michae1O/status/996104292120649729

Zeray Asgedom, the former TPLF central committee member, in the past served as manager of the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA). During his tenure, ERTA faced one of the biggest staff turnover rates in history, losing 137 employees only in six months.
Zeray was replaced by Solomon Tesfaye, who has been state minister in the office of Prime Minister and acting manager of the national broadcaster, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) and deputy general manager of Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA), when Zeray was the manager. He also used to manage the Hawassa-based southern region’s media. However, certain staff and colleagues question if Solomon has the motivation or capability to reform the institution.
Haileyesus worku, the former editor of ERTA and currently in exile in Denver, Colorado describes Solomon as a kind person but someone who has no managerial capability and his principal goal in his life is to raise his children. “I recall him as a weak and yes-man. I don’t seem him as someone daring to take bold and independent decisions.”
EBA is run by board members, represented from government communication office, ministry of civil service, ministry of finance and economic development. The board chair is Asmelash Woldeselassie, chair of the parliament’s legal and administrative affairs standing committee and TPLCE central committee member.
Ethiopia is described by the Committee to Protect Journalists as one of the most censored countries in the world and a top jailer of journalists.

(Photo Zeray Asgedom in the middle, rendering license to Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC), Walta Information Center (WIC) and Arki Broadcasting Service.)