On September 24, 2024, a post circulating on X(formerly Twitter) claimed to show images of a massive grave allegedly containing ethnic Amhara Muslims killed by the ruling Prosperity Party.
However, upon closer investigation, it has been revealed that these images are not recent but were found in various social media platforms and websites dating back from 2020.
As the images show the posts were made before four years demanding to stop genocide on the ethnic Amhara. The posts stated that the images show the incident took place in Metekel.
The Metekel massacre occurred on the night of December 22-23, 2020, in the Metekel Zone of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region in Ethiopia. Ethnic Gumuz militias attacked the homes of ethnic Amhara, Oromo, and Shinasha communities, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported that the attackers set houses on fire and used firearms and knives against the residents.
In response, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) killed 42 suspects and arrested five officials.
Due to the time difference between the original posts and the one posted this week it can be assured that the mass graves are not recent. Misinformation and disinformation can have serious consequences, fueling tensions, inciting violence, and causing further harm to communities already affected by conflict.
In this case, the misidentification of these images has the potential to increase an already volatile situation in Ethiopia and also this post about a past incident can deepen divisions among people by bringing unresolved emotions back to the surface. This can polarise groups further, as individuals may feel compelled to defend their perspectives or relive the trauma, making it harder to move forward and heal. Additionally, some people might take the images as it is a recent incident therefore can also spread misinformation or exacerbate misunderstandings and mistrust within the community.
