Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), established in 1942, is Ethiopia’s sole national wire service and one of the oldest media institutions in the country. It operates through a sprawling network of 36 regional bureaus, supplying news content to domestic media outlets and government entities. In addition to its wire service, ENA publishes two newspapers: Addis Zemen (in Amharic) and The Ethiopian Herald (in English), both widely regarded as government-aligned publications.
Media assets
News agency: ENA
Publishing: Ethiopian Herald, Addis Zemen
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
ENA is fully state-owned and operates under close government oversight. The agency is governed by a seven-member board, whose members are nominated by the executive and confirmed by Parliament. The board is chaired by the Vice Minister of Information, a clear indication of its direct subordination to the government’s communications apparatus. Several board members are sitting Members of Parliament, further blurring the lines between editorial oversight and political authority.
Despite nominal references to autonomy in ENA’s founding legal framework, in practice, governance decisions remain heavily politicized, with appointments and directives shaped by ruling party interests.
Source of funding and budget
The agency is almost entirely dependent on public subsidies, with no significant alternative revenue streams. There is a lack of transparency surrounding its financial operations; no audited financial statements or detailed budget breakdowns are publicly available.
According to government data, ENA received a state subsidy of ETB 100 million (approx. US$ 1.7 million) for the 2023–2024 fiscal year. Local media experts estimate that more than 90% of ENA’s budget comes directly from the government, leaving the agency highly vulnerable to political influence. Discussions in early 2025 about increasing ENA’s budget to expand digital operations and regional presence have not yet materialized into confirmed allocations.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence at ENA exists largely in name only. The agency has long functioned as a mouthpiece of the state, with censorship and self-censorship deeply entrenched in its newsroom culture. Journalists and editors routinely toe the government line, with little room for dissent or critical coverage.
This pattern of control extends to its affiliated newspapers, Addis Zemen and The Ethiopian Herald, both of which largely reflect the priorities and narratives of the ruling authorities. Despite ENA’s operations being governed by a specific legal proclamation, no provisions exist within it to safeguard editorial autonomy.
Moreover, no independent oversight body or assessment mechanism has been established to evaluate or protect the agency’s editorial integrity. Internal whistleblowers and external media observers have repeatedly flagged incidents of political interference, particularly during periods of civil unrest or elections.
As of June 2025, ENA continues to play a central role in Ethiopia’s state-controlled media ecosystem, delivering content that overwhelmingly reinforces government messaging while marginalizing alternative or oppositional voices. In a public address, ENA CEO Seife Deribe emphasized the agency’s role in “image‑building and fostering national consensus,” urging ENA to strengthen solidarity and nation‑building initiatives.
June 2025