French Journalist Detained In Ethiopia, Employer Says

A French journalist has been detained in Ethiopia after being arrested last week, his employer has said.

Antoine Galindo was on a reporting assignment in Ethiopia, having arrived on 13 February to cover the African Union summit, Indigo Publications Group, publisher of the Africa Intelligence website, said .

The publisher said Mr Galindo was being suspected of “conspiracy to create chaos” in the country and had appeared in court on Saturday.

“His detention has been extended until 1 March, when the next hearing of his case will take place,” a statement from Indigo Publications Group said.

The company condemned what it says was an “unjustified arrest”, adding that the “spurious accusations are not based on any tangible evidence that might justify this extended deprivation of liberty”.

It also said the arrest was a serious attack on press freedom.

The Committee to Project Journalists (CPJ) has called for Mr Galindo’s release adding that it is “outraged that a journalist on a legitimate reporting trip is targeted in this way”.

Ethiopian authorities have not commented on the matter.