Ethiopian journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu, associated with the Oromia News Network, have been charged with 'outrages against the constitution' and face severe penalties, including the death penalty. They were arrested in November 2021 and are being held at Daleti Prison, with their court hearings repeatedly adjourned. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for their immediate release, stating that the charges are retaliatory in nature. The journalists are being tried alongside 15 co-defendants linked to opposition parties. CPJ has criticized the Ethiopian authorities for the arbitrary detention and has highlighted the lack of credible charges. Previous attempts to contact local police and government communications offices for comments on the detentions have been unsuccessful.

The article by Dereje Gonfa, published on September 29, 2021, in Addis Standard, reports on severe food shortages in the Borana zone, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia, particularly in Wachile woreda. Eyewitnesses claim that starvation has led to deaths, especially among the elderly, who rely on the youth for support. Local authorities are accused of conscripting youth, forcing contributions to the defense force, and cracking down on suspected Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) supporters. A civil servant and residents describe a climate of fear and repression, with services being blocked and salaries forcibly deducted. However, local administrators deny these claims, stating that there is no disruption of services or conscription, and that aid is being provided. The article highlights the conflicting narratives between residents and officials regarding the humanitarian situation in the region.