Melese Shine, editor-in-chief of the weekly "Ethiop", was released on bail of 12,000 birr (approx. US$1,440) on 25 June 2002. He had been detained since 19 March when he was charged with publishing and disseminating an article defaming the head of government, and publishing an interview with an alleged member of an illegal group. Gizaw Taye, the editor-in-chief of the "Lamrot" newspaper, was also released on bail on 24 June. He had been held since 15 March on press charges. It is estimated that there are at least 80 such cases waiting to go to trial involving journalists. Lubaba Said, the former editor-in-chief of the "Tarik" newspaper, continues to serve her one-year sentence handed down on 3 April for "fabricating news that could have a negative psychological effect on members of the armed forces and disturb the minds of the people".

International PEN, the world association of writers representing members in 95 countries, is deeply concerned about the continued detention of the journalists Yusuf Mohamed Ali, Mattewos Habteab, Dawit Habtemichael, Medhanie Haile, Temesken Ghebreyesus, Emanuel Asrat, Adowit Isaac, Fesshaye Yohannes, Said Abdelkader, Selayinghes Beyene, Simret Seyoum and Fitzum Wedi Ade. All the detentions took place in the aftermath of the closure of the private press on 18 September 2001. International PEN considers the prolonged detention of the journalists without trial to be thoroughly alarming, and is particularly concerned by the transfer of the nine journalists on hunger strike to undisclosed locations.

Freedom-of-expression organisations have raised concerns over the fate of Hassan Bility, a prominent Liberian newspaper editor. The journalist is missing and feared dead, say the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), while Human Rights Watch (HRW) is concerned that he may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Bility, the editor of the independent weekly "The Analyst," was arrested on 24 June, together with three other Liberians, on suspicion of operating a rebel terrorist cell in Monrovia, says HRW.