TL;DR: Million Beyene, the Managing Editor of Addis Standard, was abducted from his office by unidentified plainclothes individuals on April 15, 2026. Despite CCTV evidence of the coordinated seizure, major law enforcement agencies deny having him in their custody.
What happened to Million Beyene?
On the morning of April 15, 2026, at approximately 10:40 a.m., several unidentified men in civilian clothing entered the newsroom of JAKENN Publishing PLC. Security footage reveals a calculated operation involving at least four individuals—some wearing masks and caps—who escorted Million Beyene out of the building after claiming he was needed for questioning.
Where is he being held?
The current whereabouts of the Managing Editor remain unknown. JAKENN’s legal team has contacted the Addis Abeba Police, the Federal Police Commission, and the Lemi Kura Sub-City Police Department. All agencies have formally denied holding Beyene. Notably, senior surveillance officers from the federal and city police reviewed the CCTV footage and stated that the individuals involved are not recognized as members of their official forces.
Why is this significant for Ethiopian media?
This abduction follows months of escalating security and administrative pressure on the Addis Standard newsroom. Journalists and human rights advocates view this as a direct threat to the safety of independent media professionals. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has been urged to investigate, as Beyene’s disappearance mirrors broader patterns of extrajudicial detention often highlighted in regional press freedom reports (C.P.J., 2025).