Category: HaqCheck

An image that shows burning houses was circulating on Facebook with a claim that the picture belongs to a recent conflict in the town of Ataye, Amhara regional state. The image was posted along with two others on Facebook on Jan 24, 2023, by a page that has over five thousand followers.

Two hours later, the image was published by a Facebook page with more than five thousand followers on the same platform with the same claim that it shows an ongoing conflict in Ataye.

However, HaqCheck investigated the claim and confirmed that the image was first published three years ago and doesn’t show an ongoing conflict in the area. Thus, the claim was rated False.

Recurrent conflict and violence have been raging in the North Shewa and the Oromo Special zones of the Amhara regional state and adjacent areas since 2019.

In October 2019, a conflict in which three people were killed was reported. Two years later in 2021, a severe conflict occurred in the Oromo Special Zone, particularly in Ataye town.

The conflict spanned two months and hundreds of civilians were killed and injured. More than three hundred thousand people were displaced and over three thousand houses were destroyed in the April and March 2021 conflict and violence.

A quarter of the town of Ataye was destroyed during the conflict. The Amhara regional government asked for 1.5 billion Birr for the reconstruction of the town and for other rehabilitation efforts.

In April 2022, a conflict broke out in the North Showa and Oromo Special zones of the Amhara region. Over a dozen people were killed in that particular conflict.

This week, there were social media reports that conflict recently erupted in the North Shewa and Oromo Special zones and in the towns of Ataye and Jewha in particular.

Against this backdrop, an image came to circulate on Facebook with the claim that the image shows an ongoing conflict and violence in Ataye town. The picture shows properties being burnt. The image was shared by two Facebook pages each with over five thousand followers on Jan 24, 2023.

Yet, HaqCheck confirmed that the image was old and doesn’t show an ongoing conflict in the area.

The image was first published three years ago on Facebook in April 2019. The text that accompanied the image claims that the image shows a church destroyed by fire in the town of Ataye at that time.

Therefore, HaqCheck rated the claim as False.

On Jan 11, 2023, a Facebook post emerged sharing the picture of Ambassador Mesganu Arega with a claim that he was appointed as Ethiopian Foreign Minister by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The post also stated that the new minister replaced the incumbent foreign minister Demeke Mokkonen.

The Facebook page has over thirteen thousand followers and the post is highly likely to reach a wider audience.

HaqCheck however confirmed that Ambassador Mesganu Arega was not appointed a foreign minister. Prime Minister Abiy appointed the former ambassador as a state minister of the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry.

Ministerial reshuffling has been recurrent since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power.

When Abiy came in 2018, Workneh Gebeyehu, the current Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister.

The former Amhara regional president, Gedu Andargachew replaced Workneh Gebeyehu as Foreign Minister in 2019.

As the war between the Ethiopian government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) broke out in November 2020, Prime Minister Abiy appointed Demeke Mekonnen as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Demeke has since been the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

On Jan 11, 2023, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a short news statement on its Facebook page that Prime Minister Abiy named former ambassador Mesganu Arega as Foreign State Minister, effective January 10.

The claim that PM Abiy picked Mesganu Arega as Ethiopian Foreign Minister replacing Demeke Mokonnen immediately emerged on Facebook.

The post was later edited and stated that the former ambassador was appointed as Ethiopia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

However, HaqCheck cross-checked the information and confirmed that Ambassador Mesganu Arega was not appointed as a new Foreign Minister.

Additionally, he was not named as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia asserts that the former CEO of the Ethio-Engineering Group and former ambassador to Qatar and UAE was appointed as a State Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Thus, HaqCheck rendered the post False.

State-affiliated media outlets such as the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation and the Ethiopian News Agency published a news story on Facebook that Ethiopia was preparing to launch its ‘second’ satellite into orbit.

The Facebook posts by the two pages were shared half a thousand times and got close to ten thousand reactions.

However, HaqCheck investigated the claim and confirmed that Ethiopia launched its second satellite into orbit two years ago. Thus, the claim was rated False.

Ethiopia launched its first satellite into space in December 2019. The satellite is an earth observatory remote sensing satellite. The satellite named (ETRSS-1) was constructed in China and was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in China.

The Ethiopian first ever satellite required more than seven million dollars, and the Chinese government covered most of the cost. It was designed to be used for weather forecast and crop monitoring.

The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the prime contractor, in collaboration with 21 Ethiopian scientists, trained on the project as part of the technology-transfer agreement between China and Ethiopia.

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A year after launching its first-ever satellite into space, Ethiopia launched its second satellite in December 2020. The satellite named ET-Smart-RSS was launched from China’s Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. The initial design work of the rocket was done in Ethiopia, but technical work was done in China in collaboration with Chinese experts.

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The state-affiliated media organization, Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation, and the Ethiopian News Agency reported that Ethiopia was preparing to launch a second satellite into space.

However, HaqCheck investigated the information and confirmed that Ethiopia launched its second rocket into orbit back in 2020.

News reports indicate that Ethiopia has been preparing to launch a third satellite into space. The soon-to-be-launched satellite is each observatory and will have a higher image resolution than its predecessors.

HaqCheck spoke with Yeshurun Alemayehu (PhD), Deputy Director of the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) about the issue. He confirmed to HaqCheck that Ethiopia already launched two satellites and will launch a third soon.

Therefore HaqCheck rendered the post as False.

On Jan 9, 2023, a Twitter account posted an image with a claim that properties were recently being looted [by Eritrean soldiers] from Tigray regional state.

The tweet was shared 75 times and was viewed by over two thousand users on the platform.

However, HaqCheck found out that the image used to support the claim was old. The picture was first published on Facebook on April 21, 2022.

After months of tension, the federal government of Ethiopia and TPLF went to war on Nov 4, 2020.

Allied forces, including the Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) and Amhara regional militias, were also involved alongside the federal government squashing the TPLF.

The armed forces involved in the two-year armed conflict were accused of mass killing and looting.

The war lasted for two years until a peace agreement was signed between the two parties at the beginning of November 2022.

Since the peace deal was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, fighting has been stopped.

The peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF asserts that the disarmament of heavy weapons of the TPLF should be done concurrently with the withdrawal of Eritrean and non-ENDF forces from the Tigray regional state.

At the end of last month, Eritrean troops were reported to start leaving major towns in the Tigray regional state.

Yet, it is still unknown whether the non-ENDF and Eritrean troops have fully withdrawn from the Tigray regional state.

On Jan 9, 2023, a tweet emerged sharing an image with a claim that Eritrean troops recently looted properties from Tigray. The image used in support of the claim depicts many trucks transporting unidentified materials.

However, HaqCheck looked into the claim and confirmed that the image doesn’t prove the claim.

The image is old and was published for the first time on Apr 21, 2022, on Facebook. The description of the original image states that the picture shows looted properties being transported from Humera to Gondar at the time.

Therefore, HaqCheck rated the post as False.

A Facebook page with more than seven thousand followers shared an image on Dec 5, 2022, inexplicitly claiming that the picture shows ethnic Amharas recently executed in the Oromia region.

The image was captioned with an English text that reads “Amhara genocide in Oromia region of Ethiopia”.

By the time this article was published the post was shared over 39 times.

However, HaqCheck inspected the image and confirmed that it doesn’t prove the claim. Thus, the post was rendered False.   

There have been recurrent conflicts and violence in Oromia, particularly in the Wollega zones of the regional state. The armed conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), a military organization commonly addressed by the government as Shene has been intensified.

Many civilians including ethnic Amharas and Oromos were killed amid the armed conflict. Reports indicate that ethnic Amharas were mass evicted and mass killed in the conflict-prone areas.

The government and the OLA have blamed each other for the killings.

Mass killing and violence were recently reported in the East Wollega zone amidst an armed fighting between the belligerents along the border areas between the Amhara and Oromia regional states.

The image-backed claim that Amhara civilians were recently executed in Oromia appeared on Facebook against this backdrop.

HaqCheck inquired in the image was authentic. Yet, the picture was old and was previously published in August 2020.

The original image was first published by a news website stating that the picture shows two Somali soldiers publicly executed for allegedly raping a 10-years old boy in Baidoa, a city in the South West region of Somalia.

The news site said that the former soldiers were paraded on the outskirts of town before they were shot to death by the firing squad of the 60th division of the Somali National Army.Therefore, HaqCheck rated the post False for using an inaccurate image to support the claim.

On Dec 10, 2022, a Facebook page followed by more than twenty thousand users shared an image claiming that Oromia special police forces and the Oromo Liberation Army torched and looted houses that belong to Amhara residents in the Kamashi zone of the Benishangul Gumuz region.

The post became viral and was shared close to forty times on Facebook.

However, HaqCheck found out that the picture does not support the claim. Thus, the post was rated False.

According to reports, the Ethiopian government and the  Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed organization known as Shene by the government have been fighting.

Widespread instability has been raging across the region and adjacent areas as a result of the armed conflict between the belligerents.

The continuous armed confrontation has claimed the lives of many civilians. Hundreds of people were killed and injured in the regional state of Oromia, mainly in Wollega.

The Ethiopian government and Oromia regional authorities blame the Oromo Liberation Army (OLF-Shene), while the armed group accused the government of targeting and killing civilians. Both parties trade blame for the casualties.

Recurrent conflicts and causalities have been occurring in the Kamashi zone of the Benishangul Gumuz. The zone shares borders with the Wollega zones of the Oromia regional state.

An armed conflict was recently reported in Wollega. Many civilians were killed in the latest conflict.

Over 30,000 people, including ethnic Amharas and Oromos, have been displaced as a result of the recent conflict in Wollega.

Against this backdrop, a Facebook post appeared sharing an image that depicts burning houses with a claim that the picture proves that Oromia special police forces and the Oromo Liberation Army torched and looted houses that belong to Amhara residents in the Kamashi zone of the Benishangul Gumuz region.

However, the image doesn’t prove the claim that the houses shown in the picture are Amhara houses recently destroyed by fire by armed forces from Oromia.

HaqCHeck confirmed that the image was taken from an old publication made on Dec 23, 2020. The caption attached to the original picture claimed that the image shows houses burned during a conflict in the Metekel zone of the Benishangul Gumuz.

Therefore, HaqCheck rated the post as False.

On Dec 10, 2022, a Facebook page, followed by more than sixty-four thousand users shared an image-backed post claiming that the Oromia regional government was detaining ethnic Amharas in Wollega, Oromia. It added that the people were detained because they clashed with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group addressed by the government as Shane.

The post was virally circulated on the same platform and was shared over thirty times.

However, HaqCheck confirmed that the image doesn’t prove the claim that the Oromia Special Police Force recently detained ethnic Amharas in Wollega. Therefore, the post was rated False.

Reports indicate that the Ethiopian government has been fighting with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed organization known by the government as Shene. A war between the belligerents is raging in the Oromia regional state.

Civilians were reported to have been victims of the ongoing armed conflict. Hundreds of people were killed and injured in the Oromia regional state, particularly Wollega.

The government blamed the killings on the OLF-Shene, while the armed group accused the government of targeting and killing civilians.

Addis Standard, a local news outlet, reported that eyewitnesses told it that Amhara regional militia (Fano) killed dozens of civilians in the Kiremu district of the East Wollega zone on November 25 and 29.

Amid the latest conflict in Wollega, over thirty thousand people including ethnic Amharas were displaced.

It was against this backdrop the Facebook post emerged sharing an image with a claim that Oromia regional authorities recently detained Amhara civilians in Wollega.

However, HaqCheck confirmed that the image doesn’t show ethnic Amharas recently detained by Oromia regional authority in Wollega.

The image was first published on Apr 24, 2020, by the BBC Afaan Oromo and the picture shows Oromia Special Police Force officers detaining Abdo Abba Jobir, a teacher in the Jimma zone.Therefore, HaqCheck rendered the post False.

On Dec 21, 2022, a Facebook page that has more than six thousand followers shared a picture claiming that the Odaa bus was transporting fano militants [to battlefronts in Oromia]. The post sharing a picture that shows a burning bus alleged that the company, Odaa should admit it transported fano militias and apologize to the Oromo people.

However, HaqCheck investigated the claim and confirmed that the image doesn’t prove the claim that Odaa Bus was transporting fano militants. Thus, the post was rated False.

Reports indicate that the Ethiopian government has been fighting with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed organization known by the government as Shene. A war between the belligerents is raging in the Oromia regional state.

Civilians were reported to have been victims of the ongoing armed conflict. Hundreds of people were killed and injured in the Oromia regional state, particularly Wollega.

The government blamed the killings on the OLF-Shene, while the armed group accused the government of targeting and killing civilians.

Addis Standard, a local news outlet, reported that eyewitnesses told it that Amhara regional militia (Fano) killed dozens of civilians in the Kiremu district of the East Wollega zone on November 25 and 29.

It was against this background the claim that the Odaa Bus was transporting fano militants to Oromia emerged on Facebook. The post indirectly implied that the bus shown burning on the picture belong to the Odaa Bus was set on fire in Oromia because the company transported fano militias.

Odaa Bus is a transport company registered under the name of ODAA Integrated Transport Share Company and owned by thousands of stakeholders including public enterprises. The company mainly operates in the Oromia regional state.

HaqCheck looked into the image to verify whether the picture was the claim or not. However, the image doesn’t support the claim that Odaa Bus was transporting fano militias to the Oromia region.

The image that accompanied the post was taken from an old publication. The picture was first posted on Facebook on Feb 18, 2022.

The original description attached to the image alleges that the bus shown was caught on fire and burnt due to an engine failure while on the way from Addis Ababa to Desse. Accordingly, the incident happened in a place called Dhumuga, in Oromo Special zone of Amhara region.

Therefore, HaqCheck rated the post False due to its usage of an inaccurate image to support the claim.

On Dec 14, 2022, HaqCheck came across a Facebook post sharing an image that uniformed security officers harassing students with a claim that the picture shows police officers recently assaulting students in Addis Ababa.

The post was virally circulated and was shared close to half a thousand times by the time this article was published.

Yet, HaqCheck confirmed that the image doesn’t show a recent police assault on students in Addis Ababa. Thus, the post was rated False.

There have been claims that students and the Addis Ababa police clashed because schools were ‘forced to display the Oromia national flag and students to sing Oromia regional anthem’.

According to an Ethiopian News Agency, Adanech Abebe, Mayor of Addis Ababa, said that there were people who sought to unleash flag-related conflict in the city.

On Dec 8, 2022, Addis Ababa Police Commission stated that it arrested 97 students and teachers suspected of inciting conflict and violence in the city.

Police said that those arrested students and teachers provoked conflicts by dragging the Ethiopian flag and the Oromia regional flag.

Head of Addis Ababa City Peace and Security Administration Bureau, Lydia Girma announced on Dec 12, 2022,  that security forces detained 72 individuals who allegedly were suspected of working to instigate violence in schools in the city.

HaqCheck also found a video clip published on Facebook on Dec 12, 2022, claiming to be showing police officers violently assaulting students in Shiromeda.

News reports this week stated that the federal government ordered schools in the city not to force students to sing Oromia regional anthem and not to enforce the display of the Oromia flag.

The image-backed claim that police recently assaulted students in Addis Ababa appeared against the backdrop of this situation.

In an effort to verify whether the image supports the claim or not, HaqCheck uses a google reverse image search. As a result, the picture was found previously posted in 2016 on different websites including by Human Rights Watch. The description attached to the image claimed that the picture shows Ethiopian security forces harassing students in the Oromia regional state in 2016 in a bid to suppress the widespread popular protests against the then-ruling regime.

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Granted there were claims of police violence amid the clashes in schools in the city, but the image does not prove the claim.Therefore, HaqCheck rated the post as False.

A Facebook page with over 200 thousand followers made a post on Dec 11, 2022, captioned “Morocco is celebrating with two flags.” The post presented an image that shows the Moroccan national team displaying the flag of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) and rejoicing after a match.

By the time this article is published, the post had more than half a thousand reactions and was shared sixteen times.

However, HaqCheck inspected the post and confirmed that the image doesn’t support the claim. Thus, HaqCheck rendered the image Altered.

The flag used in the post belongs to the ONLF (Ogaden National Liberation Front). The politico-military organization, ONLF was established in 1984 seeking the national self-determination right of the Ethiopian Somali region. ONLF had been fighting the Ethiopian regime since 1994.

The Ethiopian ruling party underwent reform and picked a new prime minister in 2018 in a bid to reverse the widespread popular uprising across the country. The newly elected Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called upon armed groups and exiled political organizations to return to Ethiopia and resort to a peaceful struggle. Considering the call by Prime Minister, on Aug 12, 2018, the ONLF declared a unilateral ceasefire and returned back to Ethiopia.

Since then, the ONLF has remained politically active in the country and is one of the prominent opposition parties in the Somali regional state.

The FIFA World Cup, commonly referred to as the World Cup, is a periodic international football competition contested by the senior men’s national teams of the members of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Since its commencement in 1930, the tournament has been held every four years, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, when it was canceled due to the Second World War.

The 22 round of the FIFA World Cup is currently being held in Qatar. The tournament was opened on Nov 20 and will stay till Dec 18, 2022.

The Moroccan national football team has reached the Qatar FIFA World Cup semi-final as the first African Arab country. After their victory against Spain, the Moroccan team raised the Palestinian flag.

The claim that the Moroccan football team displayed the ONLF flag during the FIFA World Cup in Qatar appeared in the backdrop of this situation.

In an effort of verifying the claim, we used a google reverse image search. As a result, HaqCheck found the original image posted on different websites and social media platforms. The original image shows the Moroccan players displaying the Palestinian flag after a match in the 2022 FIFA World Cup being held in Qatar.

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HaqCheck also found a video clip published on YouTube of the Moroccan players raising the Palestinian flag after their win against Spain on Dec 6, 2022.

Link,Therefore, HaqCheck confirmed that the post was false and rated the image Altered.