The International Federation of Journalists(IFJ) has condemned the arrest of French Journalist, Antoine Galindo, who was arrested in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia while discharging his duty for his platform, the Africa Intelligence.

IFJ, which is the largest body representing journalists and media practitioners, in its statement, in conjunction with its partners, Syndicat National des Journalistes (SNJ), the Syndicat National des Journalistes (SNJCGT), CFDT Journalistes and the Syndicat Général des Journalistes Force Ouvrière (SGJ-FO), decried the illegal arrest and called for Galindo’s release.

Galindo, who had traveled to Ethiopia to cover the African Union Summit, which concluded last week, was arrested by Ethiopian authorities on February 22nd on charges of conspiring to incite unrest. However, his platform, African Intelligence, has refuted the claim, stating that the arrest was unjustified and unlawful.

Despite the response by African Intelligence on behalf of its journalist, the Ethiopian authorities arraigned him before a judge on Saturday, who ordered his detention be extended until March 1.

Reacting to the arrest and the detention, IFJ and its other partners condemned the arrest and called the French government to intervene into the matter and see to Galindo’s urgent release from detention.

Dominique Pradalié, president of the International Federation of Journalists, described Antoine Galindo’s arrest as another stifling attempt to silence independent journalists and a deliberate attack on press freedom.

He add “Journalism is not a crime and we demand Galindo’s immediate release and that clarity be demand Galindo’s immediate release and that clarity be shed on the unfounded accusations of Ethiopian Authorities.”

The statement partly reads “They ask the French government to do everything it can to help Galindo. Following his arrest by authorities in civilian clothing inthe early afternoon of 22 February, Galindo was brought before a judge two days later, who extended his detention until 1 March on allegations of conspiring with two armed groups to incite unrest in the capital, Africa intelligence reported. Galindo, head of Africa

Intelligence’s East Africa section, has been held since at the Addis Ababa Police Commission in the Bole district, southeast of the capital city.

“The journalist had arrived in Addis Ababa on 13 February on assignment to cover an African Union summit, according to Africa Intelligence. The media outlet published a statement condemning “his unjustified arrest, which is also a serious attack on press freedom.

“It also stated that Galindo has been suspected of “conspiracy to create chaos in Ethiopia,” and declared that such accusations are without evidence to justify his

detention. The journalist had in fact informed the Ethiopian authorities of his assignment in the country and provided them with a visa authorising his journalistic

Work.

“There has been a systematic pattern of repression by the Ethiopian Government to silence the media, harassing journalists to stop them from doing their work.

IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said: “The arrest of Antoine Galindo is yet another stifling attempt to suppress independent journalists and a deliberate attack on press freedom.

“ Journalism is not a crime and we demand Galindo’s immediate release and that clarity be demand Galindo’s immediate release and that clarity be shed on the unfounded accusations of Ethiopian Authorities.”