REPORTERS Without Borders is happy to learn of the release on bail of six Eritrean journalists who had been held since February 2009.
They are Bereket Misghina, Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrahtu and Basilios Zemo of Radio Bana, Meles Negusse Kiflu, who worked for Radio Bana and Radio Zara, Girmay Abraham of Radio Dimtsi Hafash and Petros Teferi.
“We are delighted to learn of the release of these six journalists, which is an exceptional development […], said Cléa Kahn-Sriber, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Africa desk. At this point, we don’t have additional information about the circumstances of their release or their state of health. We will obviously follow the situation closely.”
At least seven other journalists who were rounded up in February 2009 – Mohammed Said Mohammed, Biniam Ghirmay, Esmail Abd-el-Kader, Araya Defoch, Mohammed Dafla, Simon Elias and Yemane Hagos – were released on bail in March 2013.
According to the figures compiled by Reporters Without Borders, 16 other journalists, including Dawit Isaak and Seyoum Tsehaye, continue to be detained in Eritrea.
