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A significant dispute has emerged between one of Ethiopia’s most prominent newspapers, The Reporter, and the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP). The clash centers on the interpretation of a massive nine-month performance report presented to the House of People’s Representatives, involving allegations of corruption, journalistic ethics, and a discrepancy involving nearly 100 billion Birr.
The Spark: The Headlines that Rattled the Capital
The tension began following the publication of an article by The Reporter on May 3, 2026. The newspaper reported that audit findings had uncovered the embezzlement of a staggering 98 billion Birr (a combination of 78 billion Birr and approximately $134 million USD).
Most controversially, the article suggested that this sum had been “robbed” by a network that included high-level government officials and “famous artists.” The narrative painted a picture of a massive, coordinated theft targeting institutions like the Ethiopian Agricultural Business Corporation and Ethiopian Electric Power.
The Retraction: The Federal Police Strike Back
On April 27, the Ethiopian Federal Police issued a sharp, point-by-point rejection of the newspaper’s framing. The EFP accused The Reporter of “irresponsible” journalism and “misleading” the public by conflating different categories of crime into a single sensationalist narrative of “robbery.”
The Core Discrepancy: Embezzled vs. Identified Damages
The EFP clarified that the figures mentioned in the report represent the total value of damages and financial crimes identified during investigations, rather than a single lump sum that was stolen by officials and celebrities. The police broke down the 78 billion Birr figure as follows:
- 44.9 Billion Birr: Financial and trade crimes, including illegal remittances (hawala), cybercrime, and fintech-related offenses.
- 13.7 Billion Birr: Organized crimes, including money laundering and illegal mining.
- 7.0 Billion Birr: Corruption cases, specifically citing fertilizer procurement and bank fraud.
- 6.4 Billion Birr: Customs and tax-related crimes, including smuggling and tax evasion.
The “Artist” Contention
While The Reporter implied that artists and officials were the primary culprits behind the 78 billion Birr loss, the EFP clarified that the damage associated specifically with the “artist and fintech” category was approximately 1.7 billion Birr, and that these cases were handled under terrorism and financial damage investigations rather than simple theft.
Allegations of “Journalistic Malpractice”
The EFP’s response went beyond a mere correction of facts. They accused the newspaper of having a “hidden mission” and violating journalistic ethics by failing to reflect the “detailed explanation provided by the strategic leadership.”
The police emphasized that their report was a technical accounting of prevented and investigated losses—including $133.9 million USD in foreign exchange—and not an admission that these funds had successfully been stolen from the treasury.
The Current Standoff
The situation has now escalated from a reporting error to a legal threat. The Ethiopian Federal Police officially stated they would hold the newspaper “accountable according to the law” for disseminating false information.
Summary of the “Clash” Positions:
- The Reporter’s View: Viewed the astronomical figures and the mention of high-profile suspects as a sign of systemic, high-level embezzlement within the nation’s largest state corporations.
- The Federal Police’s View: Argues the newspaper sensationalized a complex investigative report by combining separate criminal categories into one “robbery” narrative, thereby damaging public trust and the reputation of the institution.
As the dust settles, the 1,518 suspects currently in custody remain under investigation. The clash serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between transparency and accuracy in reporting on national security and high-stakes financial crime in Ethiopia.
