15 foreign media outlets that had been functioning in Ethiopia’s Somali regional state had their operations suspended by Ethiopian authorities.
Somali, one of nine regional governments is located east of Ethiopia.
The Somali Region Communications Bureau was encouraged to take action after the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) issued a national order for the suspension for allegedly operating without a license.
The suspended Media outlets, include BBC Somali and Universal TV.
An official letter by Ethiopia’s media regulatory body said it found out in an investigation that there were media outlet representatives and journalists who operated in Somali state without license and therefore in breach of the law.
The move follows recent reports of strained relations between independent journalists and the regional authorities.
According to Nation Media group, the Ethiopian regional journalists’ association claimed the suspension was taken in retaliation to media reports on corruption among other things.