Hello, I’m Salem Solomon.

I’m a digital, multimedia journalist with the Voice of America’s Africa Division, where I cover the latest news from across the continent.

I report and edit in English, Amharic and Tigrigna, and my work has appeared in The New York Times, Poynter.org, Reuters, The Tampa Bay Times and The Washington Post. I also produce data-driven multimedia stories and research trends in analytics and digital journalism.

I invite you to check out my stories, multimedia projects, media appearances and résumé.

Recent Stories

July 19, 2019

Forced Displacement Causes Controversy in Ethiopia's Omo Valley

New report highlights dire conditions for displaced indigenous people in Ethiopia's Lower Omo Valley; government says the developments will lift people out of poverty

July 13, 2019

Jailed Eritrean Man Mistaken for Human Trafficking Kingpin Faces Deportation

After more than three years in prison an Eritrean man accused of running a human trafficking ring has been acquitted by an Italian court

July 05, 2019

Assassinations, Arrests Test Ethiopia’s Fragile Push Toward Democracy

Ethiopian Prime Minister undeterred after latest violence

June 29, 2019

Experts Warn Mali Border Violence Could Spiral Out of Control 

Militant groups are exploiting intercommunal conflict, further destabilizing what is already one of the Sahel region's most lawless areas 

June 25, 2019

Analysts Unsure Why General Killed Amhara Region President

General Asaminew Tsige was fanning flames of Amhara nationalism before he was killed

June 20, 2019

Network of Wartime Rape Survivors Seeks to End Stigma

As UN marks International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, an initiative by the foundation of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege helps to end stigma of rape survivors  

June 19, 2019

Ethiopia Finally Has Its Internet Back

The fourth internet outage under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has ended in Ethiopia, without an explanation for the country-wide blackout

June 11, 2019

Microsoft Signals Commitment to Building Digital Expertise in Africa

American tech giant announces two new development centers

June 07, 2019

Is IS Gaining Foothold in Mozambique?

A recent attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) terror group in a northern province in Mozambique signals a growing presence of extremist groups in

June 06, 2019

Gay Tour Group Stirs Controversy in Ethiopia

Religious leaders in Ethiopia are condemning a U.S. travel company that caters to gay clients for organizing travel to Ethiopian religious sites

Media Appearances

I make frequent appearances on TV, radio and web shows to discuss events unfolding across Africa. My comments have appeared on VOA broadcasts, Al Jazeera and Newsy.

Watch My Appearances

Essays & Analysis

The New York Times Magazine

‘They’re Going to Come for Us’: A Teenage Girl Caught in a War’s Riptides

My father knew we were next. “They’re going to come for us,” he’d say, after Meles Zenawi, then the prime minister of Ethiopia, told the country on national television in July 1998 that Eritreans weren’t welcome.

Columbia Journalism Review

The 'North Korea of Africa'? Not so fast.

For years, news outlets in Europe and North America have aimed to cover African places and people in terms familiar to their audiences.

Foreign Policy

Life in Eritrea’s News Desert

What the country teaches the world about the importance of an independent press.

Washington Post

No, al-Shabab is not deadlier than Boko Haram. Here are better numbers.

For years, Boko Haram has carried the dubious distinction of being Africa’s deadliest terrorist group.

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