It was a giant leap forward after decades of media repression by the state. But since the war between federal government forces and rebels in the Tigray region began in late 2020, Ethiopia has dropped in the rankings. 
Uku kunali kusintha kwakukulu patadutsa zaka zambiri pamene boma limachitira nkhanza wofalitsa nkhani. Koma kuchokera nthawi imene asilikari a boma anayamba kumenyana ndi owukira m'chigawo cha Tigray kumapeto kwa chaka cha 2020, Ethiopia inatsikanso pa ndandandawu.