President of Ethiopian Health Professionals Association and Doctors Arrested Amid Growing Tensions











The President of the Ethiopian Health Professionals Association, Ato Yonatan Daneye, along with three doctors from Arba Minch General Hospital, has been taken into police custody. This brings the total number of health professionals arrested in Addis Ababa, the Amhara Region, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region to five. Meanwhile, five others detained in Addis Ababa were released after two days.

According to the association’s Vice President, Ato Meles Bata, Ato Yonatan—who has publicly supported the recent movement of health professionals—was arrested on Sunday, May 11, 2025 (Gregorian calendar). Ato Yonatan, a health worker at Bichena Primary Hospital in East Gojam Zone, has been leading the association since its founding in 2015.

Speaking to the BBC, Ato Meles stated that Yonatan was taken from his home on Sunday afternoon. “He called me on Saturday and mentioned that both the hospital and local police station were seeking to question him,” Meles said. “He was arrested the following day.”

Meles managed to speak briefly with Yonatan after his arrest. While Yonatan indicated that he was not facing serious problems, the call was abruptly cut off before further details could be shared. Meles believes the arrest is connected to the health professionals’ recent collective actions. He cited multiple warnings received by both himself and Yonatan as indicators of targeted pressure.

The association had previously issued letters urging health professionals to respond firmly but responsibly to ongoing issues, including salary grievances and working conditions. “We are confident the arrest is linked to the association’s involvement,” Meles added. “Even if others are involved, that is not our concern.”

Yonatan is not the only health professional detained in relation to these protests. On Friday, May 09, 2025 (Gregorian calendar), three doctors from Arba Minch General Hospital—Dr. Barnabas Samuel, Dr. Melaku Almau, and Dr. Habtamu Getachew—were arrested, according to their families. All three are also lecturers at Arba Minch University.

Family members told the BBC that images of the three doctors participating in Friday’s protest were circulated on social media. Following this, the doctors were summoned to the hospital, where government officials and security forces were reportedly present. They were later arrested and taken to the Gamo Zone Police Station on suspicion of “coordinating the health workers’ movement.”

However, Dr. Ambachew Duma, manager of Arba Minch General Hospital, denied the arrests, telling the BBC that he had met with the health professionals and reached an agreement. “No one has been arrested,” he claimed.

In Addis Ababa, four health workers were also detained after expressing support for the movement at their health center in the Keraniyo Sub-City of Nefas Silk. The arrests occurred on Wednesday, May 07, 2025 (Gregorian calendar). Among them was Degnesh Tilahun, a community health worker with 30 years of service. Her husband, Rev. Dawit Garuma, told the BBC that police arrived later that afternoon and detained the group at the Jemo Michael Police Station.

All four were released on bail on Friday, May 09, 2025, prior to appearing in court, their families said.

Later that same day, pharmacist Gebru Melka was arrested while leaving work at the Addis Ketema Sub-City Woreda 9 Health Center. According to a close friend who spoke to the BBC anonymously due to safety concerns, Gebru is currently being held at the Fourth Police Station in the Merkato area. His arrest was reportedly linked to a group photo taken in support of the movement.

Gebru was scheduled to appear in the Addis Ababa City First District Court on Saturday, May 10, 2022 (Gregorian calendar). The court granted police five days of the twelve requested for further investigation.

Michael Tsegaye, a midwife nurse at the same health center, was arrested a day earlier, on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 (Gregorian calendar). He was released on Friday, May 09, 2025, after two days in custody.

Reports also indicate that doctors at Agaro Hospital in the Jimma Zone of Oromia Region were detained and have since been released.