Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 12, 2026 | Horn News Hub
Dr. Gebru Kahsay, an associate professor of journalism at Mekelle University and head of the Press Secretariat of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration, was reportedly taken from his residence in Mekelle by armed security forces late Monday, according to family members and local sources.
Relatives and individuals close to the family said armed men linked to the faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front currently exercising control in parts of the region entered Dr. Gebru’s home in the Diaspora neighborhood of Mekelle at around 2 p.m. on Monday.
According to accounts shared by family members, the forces allegedly broke into the residence while Dr. Gebru was with his wife and children. Witnesses said family members were ordered outside while officers searched the house and confiscated personal materials, including a laptop and documents.
The family stated that no court warrant was presented during the operation and that officers did not explain the reason for taking him into custody. One family member reportedly questioned why he was being removed at night, but no response was given.
For several hours after the incident, Dr. Gebru’s whereabouts remained unknown, raising fears among colleagues and local observers that he may have been subjected to an enforced disappearance.
Later on Tuesday, local journalist Mulugeta Atsebeha reported through Landa Report that Dr. Gebru was being held at Hadinet Police Station in Mekelle. The report claimed the detention was linked to statements and press releases issued through the official Facebook page of the Tigray Interim Regional Administration under the leadership of Lieutenant General Tadese Werede.
The detention comes amid escalating political tensions within Tigray following recent disputes over regional leadership and authority. Rival factions within the TPLF have been engaged in a power struggle after a faction aligned with Debretsion Gebremichael reportedly moved to assert administrative control in parts of the region.
Critics and observers say the political standoff has increasingly affected journalists, civil servants, and officials perceived to be aligned with competing factions inside the interim administration.
At the time of publication, regional authorities and security officials had not publicly commented on the allegations surrounding Dr. Gebru’s detention, nor clarified whether formal charges had been filed against him.
Human rights advocates warn that detentions carried out without warrants, public explanation, or immediate access to legal procedures risk undermining already fragile political and security conditions in Tigray, where post war recovery efforts remain deeply strained.
The case has triggered growing concern among journalists, academics, and civil society actors, some of whom are calling for transparency regarding Dr. Gebru’s condition, legal status, and access to due process.
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