A mystery “static” has been disrupting the Voice of America’s Amharic service aimed at Ethiopia, according to a summary issued by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Two other services, in the Afan Oroma and Tigrigna languages, have been unaffected.
David Borgida of the VOA told Bloomberg News the VOA had not identified the source of the interference.
According to the summary, the Ethiopian government has denied responsibility but also has not offered to investigate the problem. An Ethiopian government spokesman blamed opposition political forces for generating “a smear campaign.”
The Ethiopian government has had a contentious relationship with VOA over the last few years, including jailing VOA personnel.
