A group of journalists en route from Dire Dawa to Addis Ababa to cover the welcoming ceremony for President Isaias Afewerki were reported to have been attacked by unknown group of youngsters putting some of them in a critical condition.
The journalists who were dispatched from the City’s Mass Media Agency were driving to Addis Ababa late July 13, 2018 while they were stopped by a group of youth at the town of Meisso which was recently rocked by a deadly conflict.
Five of the crew members are employees of Dire Dawa Mass Media Agency. Those who were attacked include: one cameraman, Amin Sherrif, a producer Amero Tesfaye, reporters Biftu Yesuf and Mussie Umer and their driver Sulieman Ahmed. Apparently, Sulieman and Mussie were critically injured by the beating.
At the moment, Sulieman who was badly injured is in a coma at Dille Chora Hospital, in Dire Dawa.
“We were attacked because the group of men accused of us of being spies,” a journalist who suffered a minor injury told The Reporter. “We told them that we are going to Addis to cover the welcoming ceremony for President Isaias,” the same reporter said.
Hassn Ige, manager of Dire Dawa Mass Media Agency, confirmed the attack has taken place and said that he is now following the case.
“At the moment we were told to send Sulieman who is now in ICU to Addis Ababa further medical care”, he added.
