Addis Standard Editor-in-Chief Abducted, Offices Raided, Equipment Seized

JAKENN Publishing PLC, publisher of Addis Standard tri-lingual publications, says its Editor-in-Chief, Yonas Kedir, was abducted, physically assaulted and held for approximately 24 hours by security personnel, followed by a raid on the publication’s offices and a forced eviction notice issued against its premises. In a statement issued on 06 August, JAKENN said the incidents occurred over three consecutive days, beginning on Saturday, 01 August 2026, when Yonas was reportedly taken by security personnel and subjected to what the company described as “prolonged interrogation.” … JAKENN said the alleged abduction was followed the next day, Sunday 02 August, by a raid on its offices by “a heavily armed team of security and intelligence personnel,” who entered the premises “without due process” and confiscated equipment from the publication’s multimedia production studio. … “The inspection also confirmed a disturbing pattern of deliberate destruction to studio lighting systems, light stands, microphone stands, power accessories, and related production equipment,” JAKENN said, adding that a complete inventory and valuation had been preserved as evidence for legal proceedings. (Addis Standard)