A website link, by the name “Coca Cola Welfare Fund”, has been circulating on emails, social media, and messaging apps. The links, which started to gain traction on June 6, invite you to fill a survey to get a prize. One of the purported prizes is an iPhone 12 mobile phone. HaqCheck has become aware of the content and interrogated it, confirming it is a scam.
HaqCheck has observed that when you try to open the link with your computer, you mostly get an alert message saying “the link may be malicious”.
But when it opens on a mobile phone browser the reader is sent to the home page in Amharic that reads: “Congratulations! 20th anniversary of Coca-Cola!”. As shown below, there are different links with a different date in the picture but with the same content. The home button and the logo on the site also don’t work. when pressed
The comments are written in Amharic in order to push the Ethiopian reader into believing the scam. Most of the posts claim you won the prize. It is also apparent that the names of the people who are commenting are not consistent, most of them written in Amharic but using Western names.
Coca-Cola was first bottled in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in 1959 by the Ethiopian Bottling Share Company, which later opened a second branch in Dire Dawa in 1965.
The two plants were nationalized in 1975 and ran as public companies until 1996 when they were bought by private investors. Just prior to that, in 1995, the Coco-Cola South African Beverage Company (Coca-Cola SABCO) bought shares in the business and in 1999 signed a joint venture agreement with the plants.
In 2001, Coca-Cola SABCO increased its shares to 61 percent and the company changed its name to the East African Bottling Share Company.
Scammers use online surveys to scrape sensitive personal or financial information. This data can be used to commit identity theft or to be sold to a third party. Either way, they’re making money.
Most of the time they use malicious links which are created to promote scams, attacks, and frauds. By clicking on an infected URL, malware can be downloaded such as a Trojan or virus which can then take control of your devices. You also might be persuaded to part with sensitive information on a fake website. Phishing, the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, is another popular tactic to get you to give up passwords or personal information about yourself.
The Coca-Cola scam has been tried multiple times in different countries and occasions. HaqCheck has contacted Coca-Cola Ethiopia, via phone, and asked about the viral link claiming to be a Coca-cola welfare fund.
We have confirmed that the link circulating on email, social media, and messaging apps is a scam and has not been promoted by Coca-Cola.
On 24 May 2021 the US Department of State announced a visa restriction policy on four parties stated to have allegedly conducted wrongful violence and abuses and hindered access to humanitarian assistance to the Tigray region. The sanction levies restrictions on visa issuance for any current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean government officials, members of the security forces, Amhara regional forces and members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The statement issued by the state department indicated that the visa restriction will also be applied to immediate family members.
The state department warned those parties that the US may take further actions and called for other countries to follow the same suit to stop the parties from aggravating the humanitarian crisis in Tigray.
The US government demands from the government of Ethiopia and other parties holding accountable to those who committed violations and atrocities, ensure unfettered humanitarian access, protect civilians, and end hostilities and pursue peaceful resolutions. It also urged the Eritrean government to immediately withdraw its forces from the regional state.
Citing the reluctance of all parties to respond to the call, the state department said that the US government has imposed wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. However, the US government did not announce the details of the economic sanctions and the list of individuals who will fall under the visa restriction.
The statement also asserted that the US government would impose defense trade control policy and will continue its existing restrictions.
War broke out in Ethiopia’s Tigray regional state seven months ago between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)-led armed forces. The federal government controlled major areas of the Tigray region and killed and arrested senior civil and military leaders of TPLF and its forces. However, crises loomed in the regional state.
The sanctions came after a series of pressures and cessation of hostilities calls from the international community and the US government regarding the Tigray armed conflict and following crises.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held four sessions regarding the armed conflict that is followed by humanitarian crises and human rights abuses crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. It has been issuing ‘statements of deep concerns about the humanitarian and security crisis. On April 22, 2021 the UNSC called for a scaled-up humanitarian response and unfettered humanitarian access and for a continuation of the international relief effort and investigations into allegations of violence.
The US government has been issuing statements regarding humanitarian and security concerns in the Tigray region. The United States State Department has been calling for the ‘immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces and Amhara regional forces’ from Tigray and cessation of hostilities by all parties to the conflict, and a commitment to permit unhindered humanitarian access. But Ethiopia refused the call saying the acts of ethnic cleansing and involvement of foreign forces in the ongoing military operation are ungrounded allegations.
On 18 March 2021, the US State Department issued a press statement by Antony Blinken, US state secretary. It provided an additional 52 million US dollars in assistance to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Tigray. The state secretary also called for the cessation of hostilities, withdrawal of Eritrean and deployed Amhara regional forces, and the need for accountability for human rights abuses and atrocities by all parties such as Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces, Eritrea Defense Forces, and Amhara regional special forces.
On 19 May 2021, the US Senate endorsed a resolution that calls on the Ethiopian government, the TPLF, and other involved parties in the conflict in Tigray to cease all hostilities, protect human rights, allow unfettered humanitarian access, and cooperate with independent investigations of credible atrocity allegations.
The US government stopped aid to Ethiopia due to differences over the water filling of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during the Trump administration last year. The security and development aid halt imposed last August was about 272 million dollars.
The new Biden administration reversed the decision and delinked the suspension from the GERD issue. However, the US government didn’t completely pause the previous sanction and stated last February that it has attached it to the crisis in Tigray. The US State Department notified that the resumption of the assistance will be assessed on a number of factors and development regarding humanitarian improvements in Ethiopia’s Tigray regional state.
On 24 May 2021, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) issued a statement expressing its disappointment by the US State Department decision to impose a visa restriction.
The MoFA threatened that if the US government continues the interference and meddling in Ethiopia’s internal affairs, Ethiopia will be obliged to reassess its relations with the US which might have implications beyond the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
On May 26, 2021, US president Biden urged in a press statement that belligerents of the Tigray armed conflict should wage and adhere to a ceasefire.
Following the visa restrictions, rallies across Ethiopia and abroad such as in Norway, Italy, and Canada have been held opposing the decision of the US government. The demonstrators showed their support to China and Russia by coming with pictures of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Asked if the visa restrictions and diplomatic pressure from the US could push Ethiopia toward the East, Dina Mufti stated that the Ethiopian government wants to improve and have a good relationship with any country.
John Inhofe, Oklahoma senator who has opposed the visa restrictions, arrived in Ethiopia early this week for a visit and met and held discussions with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime minister Demeke Mekonnen, and Tagese Chafo, House of People’s Representatives speaker.
On June 02, 2021, Dina Mufti, MoFA spokesperson said in a weekly press brief that efforts are being made to improve the deterioration of relations with the US. “We hope it [the deteriorating relationship] will change,” he said.
Note: Our effort to get comments and further clarifications from the US Embassy in Addis Ababa bore no fruit.
A YouTube link is circulating on social media which purports to be leaked audio of the Prime Minister addressing a Prosperity Party executive committee meeting on May 27. Kello Media released the audio with English subtitles on May 31. The audio has gone viral gaining traction in particular on Facebook and YouTube.
HaqCheck is urgently investigating this content since it started to spread on social media.
Kello Media is an online media outlet based in Washington, D.C. in the US and is known for being a trenchant critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. It has 310,247 followers on Facebook.
Following the released video on May 31, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a strong rebuttal on Facebook describing the segment as a “fake audio compilation”. The statement said that the file had “been put together by drawing on different remarks made by the Prime Minister and editing it into one compilation”.
It went on: “In this era of disinformation and as the elections draw nearer, we urge citizens to be vigilant about such types of disinformation campaigns aimed at creating discord.”
The Prosperity Party also issued a statement on Facebook on June 1 stating that the leaked audio file was not real and had been fabricated to mislead the public. The Party, which is campaigning ahead of a planned general election on June 21, also claimed that the audio file had been spliced together from different speeches Prime Minister Abiy had made at different times.
The following paragraphs on the YouTube video were given as English subtitles to the purported leaked audio clip of the Prime Minister.
“On our part we will do whatever is possible to make sure that there are no irregularities in the upcoming election. As you know the Prosperity Party was the main party that for a variety of reasons favored postponing the scheduled national election last year. Overall it is hard to imagine what would have happened if the coronavirus did not occur and the election had proceeded as scheduled.
This time, we consider holding the election as the most favorable option for us to avert a situation worse than last year. It must be stressed that the so-called politicians including activists are striving to take overpower. Because of this our political operatives must take extra precautions in whatever they do.
We must constantly evaluate and quickly correct even a small gaffe or a minor misstep. Even a single foul play is dangerous. What alarms me is the fact that there are more politicians, more political forces media outlets than you can imagine who are contesting the elections to wrest power.
They are everywhere, near and far. No one will be able to form a government in the coming ten years. I would rather die than hand over power to them. We will take action. The taskforce we established has already commenced the work. As a result, there will be a high level of death and bloodshed. Regardless, I can tell you this with certainty and there is no doubt or mystery about it: we have won the election, we have won it easily.
We now have great responsibility to prevent an election [that may produce a different result] and make sure that our competitors also lose hope in it. Compared to the challenges we have come through thus far, it should not be difficult to succeed in this endeavor. I believe we must redouble our efforts to prevent our only resource to success from slipping away.”
Haqcheck’s mission
HaqCheck has highlighted how manipulated content is a significant weapon in disseminating disinformation, particularly during election campaigns. Our mission is to educate the public on how manipulated and fabricated files and content can be identified from real ones.
Manipulated videos, audio and images have been around for years, but the rise of artificial intelligence and advanced editing software has made them much harder to recognize.
Audio manipulation is like using Photoshop on people’s voices. This kind of manipulation can be executed in two main ways:
Cheapfakes: These are audio-visuals that are altered using classical video editing tools like editing dubbing, speeding up or slowing down, cutting or splicing together different scenes to change context. They do not use AI-enabled tools.
Deepfakes: These are altered or generated audio-visuals using artificial intelligence, neural networks and machine learning. This type of content-synthesis technology enables media representations of non-existent subjects as well as subjects doing or saying things they’ve never done or said. Digital cloning also allows one to manipulate existing media to be hyper-realistic.
According to a publication by the DeepTrust Alliance, cheapfakes are by far the largest threat in the current digital world.
When it comes to verifying whether audio is real or fake there is a lack of tools. But, even though it is a bit hard to recognize manipulated audios with just the ears, it’s not impossible.
Some tools are being developed to fill the gap. Poynter, a leading journalism institute and owner of the International Fact-Checking Network, has written about a piece of software called Forensia.
Developed in Argentina in 2019, Forensia helps to debunk fake WhatsApp audio files, but it is applicable only for WhatsApp and it works in limited languages. It also charges to be used.
In general, when one is listening for a potentially manipulated audio, here’s what to take note of. The first, crucial step is to pay attention to tell-tale details and clues.
Listen carefully to the timing (the gap between each word), a frequent voice-tone change, unfinished words and unvoiced letters (mostly consonant), unnecessary whine, and background voices.
The next step is then to look for the original source of the audio ( using traditional ways like tracing back previous speeches on related topics or events); especially when it is a suspected cheap fake. It helps to cross-check the words and even understand the original context of the media. Therefore, as mentioned above, since there is a shortage of tools to verify the authenticity of audio files, a verdict couldn’t be given on the matter.
The audio clip released by Kello Media contains many words and phrases from a previous speech by PM Abiy Ahmed (PhD) during a Prosperity Party Executive Committee meeting held on April 22.
The disputed Amharic audio has 174 words in total. This file comprises 66 words, eight phrases, and three sentences from the video clip of the Prime Minister’s April 22 meeting which was first published on Fana Television’s YouTube channel.
Due to the shortage of instant fact-checking and verification tools and technologies for videos and audios, HaqCheck cannot conclude whether the claimed-leaked audio clip is fabricated or authentic. HaqCheck has cross-checked the possible audio compilation and recommends the public be extremely cautious of this kind of disputed content. Haqcheck, which has been investigating these claims since they emerged in the last 24 hours, will continue to probe.
COVID-19 was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO). It has been recommended that you should wear a mask, keep a safe distance and wash your hands regularly.
According to WHO’s recommendations to improve hand hygiene practices, washing hands with water and soap frequently is one of the best ways to keep the hands clean and the other is using alcohol-based hand sanitizers (composed of ethanol or isopropanol, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide).
Hand sanitizers are cleansing agents applied to the hands to kill viruses, bacteria, and microorganisms (disease-causing organisms). It can be found in a liquid, gel, or foam form. Depending on the active ingredient used, hand sanitizers can be classified as alcohol-based (which contain ethanol or isopropyl alcohol/ isopropanol) or alcohol-free (which contain Hydrochloric acid or benzalkonium chloride). Both types of sanitizers might also have ingredients such as Hydrogen peroxide, glycerol, water, and/or some fragrances.
Likewise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says sanitizers used for COVID-19 prevention should contain at least 60% alcohol. The Ethiopian Ministry of Health and Public Health Institute also recommends using alcohol-based sanitizer when water and soap are not available.
However, Addis Zeybe observed some alcohol-free sanitizers and disinfectants being sold in Ethiopia which claim to kill 99.99% of harmful viruses and bacterias, including the coronavirus.
Addis Zeybe has analyzed what the recommended standard of hand sanitizers for COVID prevention is, talked with experts, and contacted stakeholders in Ethiopia.
Addis Zeybe spoke with Mengistu Endalew, the deputy director of medicine facility inspection in the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority. When asked about the efficacy of alcohol-free sanitizers which claim to be effective on COVID-19, Mengistu responded: “We give authorization based on the requirements and standards set by the Ethiopian Standard Agency, and we gave authorization for three alcohol-free sanitizers and many more alcohol-based alcohol-based sanitizer manufacturers.” He also added that the standard was authorized by different stakeholders like the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI).
Looking into the standard, Haqcheck found that it doesn’t specify whether the products are for COVID-19 or not.
Yilma Mengistu, director of standard developments at the Ethiopian Standard Agency, explained: “The way the standards are given is general and it doesn’t have specification for each product.
“In this case, it doesn’t specify which product is effective for COVID-19. But there is an obligation to include the purpose of the product, spectrum of activity, the recommended method of application, application procedure, and other claims and uses of recommendation in the labelling. It is the way every standard is given.”
Addis Zeybe spoke with Dr. Kirubel Tesfaye (MD), a postgraduate student at the University of Barcelona. The health expert said: “Our society is living in a resource-limited country. I believe alcohol-based sanitizers are much cheaper to buy and have a superior action over their counterpart.
Pointing to a research paper in the American Journal of Infection Control, Dr. Kirubel added: “If one cannot afford to buy an alcohol-based sanitizer there are videos showing how to prepare sanitizer. If someone has better access to non-alcohol-based sanitizers, they are as effective but they have to apply larger volumes.”
Asked, “why does WHO still recommend the alcohol-based one?” Dr. Kirubel went on: “The WHO is waiting until more peer-reviewed publications on alcohol-free sanitizers come out, but both alcohol- and alcohol-free sanitizers are being marketed in Europe and the US as tackling COVID-19. Besides, the virus can effectively be prevented from spreading by hand by using soap and water. That may be the reason most products have comparable results”
With that being said, Saharele Abdulahi, state minister of health, said “It is known that the most effective and recommended hand sanitizer is alcohol-based, but due to the shortage of supply of alcohol (from the National Alcohol and Liquor Factory and the Ethiopian Sugar Corporation), we had to find another option to tackle the challenge.
“We had a long debate with professional bodies and experts about the choices we had and decided to adopt what other countries are using, which was using alcohol-free sanitizers. And since there was a demand from manufacturers we took the only choice we had at the time.”
Saharele emphasizes that the recommended hand sanitizer remains an alcohol-based one. But if it is not available, one can also use alcohol-free sanitizers. “It is at least better than nothing,” she said. Saharele added that ongoing research was still being conducted on coronavirus and there are always new discoveries.
As most health experts and professional bodies agreed, using the alcohol-free sanitizer is an option if only one can’t get access to the alcohol-based one. Otherwise, washing hands with soap and water frequently and using alcohol-based sanitizer is the most effective and recommended to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
There was a Facebook post made on 19 May 2021 by a Facebook page named Ogaadenia Media (a page with more than 77,000 followers). The first picture posted showed people armed wearing civilian clothes while the second showed armed people with Ethiopian military uniforms. The text is written in Somali reads “BREAKING NEWS, The Benishangul Gumuz rebels have killed 32 Ethiopian soldiers in the village of Al Mahala in the Guba district, which borders the Nile River. It is also said that the fighting “claimed the lives of 10 civilians” and that there were many casualties, although no official figures were available.” The post also reminds us that in Benishangul, hundreds of civilians and soldiers have been killed in recent months. Accordingly, it suggests following the page for more updates and to share the content with friends. The post has been shared more than 215 times by the time this article was written. HaqCheck has interrogated the post and concluded the post is FALSE due to the inaccuracy of the images to support the claim.
Of course, there has been a long-standing insurgency in the Benishangul-Gumuz region. Nonetheless, in recent years the insurgency has intensified and resulted in the loss of lives and displacement of many innocent people. Recently, on May 18, it was reported that more than 20 government security forces were killed in Metekel, Guba woreda.
In this context, the image was shared in the areas where several claims have already been made. The post claimed that rebels attacked a military base in Mehala, Benishangul Gumuz, killing 32 Ethiopian defense personnel and 10 civilians while wounding scores of civilians. However, a reverse image search of the Facebook pictures doesn’t prove the claim. The first image was posted by a website named Pachodo.org on 30 October 2017. The picture was taken on August 25, 2017, the day before South Sudanese rebels attacked government forces, on the border with Uganda, South Sudan.
The second picture can be found along with other pictures on the official Facebook page of the FDRE Defense Force and it was posted in November 2020. The picture was posted with an Amharic poem.
Granted, there have been armed conflicts along the Benishangul region, between government forces and Benishangul rebels. However, HaqCheck has interrogated the post and confirmed that the images don’t show the Benishangul rebels that killed Ethiopian soldiers. Therefore, it has rendered the post-FALSE due to the usage of an inaccurate image to support the claim.
Fact checked by: Endalkachew Teka
Edited by: Rehobot Ayalew
This article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking initiative, run by its R&D Department.
A Facebook post appeared on May 11, 2021, by a Facebook page named Tigray Today ❷❹ – a page which was created on October 24, 2020, by the name Gurage press 24. The page later on May 1, 2021, changed its name to Tigray today 24. It has more than 5,300 followers.- The Facebook post shows a man with a handcuff getting out of a helicopter, guarded by the military. The Amharic text written in the post reads “Breaking news… the TPLF’s chairman Debretsion G/Michael surrendered Kola Tembien after his guards were killed in a fierce battle…” after a few lines of text it adds “I wish I hear this news, so I can get overjoyed ”. As of the time, this article was written, the Facebook post was shared 160 times. HaqCheck has looked into the post and found the picture Altered and the whole post, Satirically Misleading.
Since 4 November 2020, there has been armed fighting between the TPLF-led regional forces and Federal government-led forces in Tigray. The federal government has controlled the regional capital city, Mekelle, on 28 November 2020. It has also recently announced that it was rapidly capturing senior civil and military officers of the TPLF. Some of the senior civil and military leaders of the TPLF-led force have also been arrested. Some of them include influential members of the TPLF, Sebhat Nega, former President Abay Woldu, Deputy President of the Tigray Regional State Abraham Tekeste (Ph.D.), and others. On 14 January 2021, ENDF gave a statement saying three TPLF officials, Abay Tsehaye- TPLF political leader, Seyoum Mesfin- former foreign minister, and Asmelash Woldeselassie- a member of the executive committee of the TPLF, and other former military members were killed. There were also reports of social media appearances by Debretsion G/Michael.
However, a reverse image search of the images found in Microsoft Bing shows that the original picture was taken from a video that shows the former Chief Executive Officer of MetEC (now called Ethio Engineering Group) Brigadier General Kinfe Dagnew, being flown to Addis Ababa after his arrest on November 13, 2018. The Facebook post replaced the face in the original image with the image of Debretsion’s face.
In addition, when looking into the content, the headline “Breaking News” and the actual content at the end of the text “I wish I heard this news, so I can get overjoyed ” are not the same. Which makes the post, Satirical.
The page also has a history of posting false information, with a similar nature. One of the former claims by the page was checked by other fact-checking outlets which can be found here.
Despite other TPLF leaders being captured and killed, there is still no public information about the conditions of the senior TPLF leader Debretsion G/Michael. HaqCheck has found the post Satirically Misleading. Also, it has confirmed that the picture does not show Debretsion being arrested therefore, rated it as ALTERED.
Fact Checked by: Rehobot Ayalew
The following article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking running in five languages (Affan Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, and English)
On 07 May 2021, a Facebook post by the name በለሳ TV (a Facebook page with 47,000 followers) shared an image that shows soldiers and an explosion with the claim that Sudanese army troops have penetrated and entered west Gondar while controlling new territories. The text written in Tigrinya reads, “Sudanese news outlets have reported that the Sudanese army has entered into west Gondar and controlled new territories…” However, HaqCheck has interrogated the claim and confirmed that the images below don’t show the Sudanese army entering and controlling new territories in Western Gondar. Therefore, HaqCheck has rendered the post as FALSE due to an inaccurate image to support the claim.
There have been armed clashes around the Ethio-Sudanese border since November 2020. The Sudanese Armed Forces stated that they reclaimed territory in the Salam Bir and Mahaj areas in El Gedaref from the Ethiopian army and armed militias. On 31 December 2020, Omar Qamareddine, Sudanese foreign minister, declared restoration and full control over all territories along the Ethio-Sudanese border taken over by Ethiopian farmers. The countries have been in talks and negotiations to settle the issue and demarcate the boundary despite being in vain. Recently, Sudan has accepted an offer by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to mediate with Ethiopia over the contested territories.
In this context, the image was shared claiming the Sudanese army has marched and controlled new territories in west Gondar. However, a reverse image search of the Facebook post’s pictures doesn’t prove the claim. The first image was taken from an article written in French and it shows Sudanese army troops waving the Sudanese flag in May 2014. The second image was taken from a Facebook post written in Arabic in March 2017. The original post of the second image can be found with the following link.
Indeed there have been armed conflicts along with the border areas between Ethiopian and Sudanese forces. However, HaqCheck has interrogated the claim and confirmed that the images below don’t show the Sudanese army marching and controlling new territories in western Gondar, therefore, rendering the post, FALSE due to the usage of an inaccurate image to support the claim.
Fact Checked by: Hagos Gebreamlak
Edited by: Eden Tafesework
This article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking initiative, run by its R&D Department.
On 23 April 2021, a Facebook post was shared by the account መሃልየ ሰለሞን which shared the image below with the claim that several military vehicles of the Ethiopian army are crossing Shire to travel to Qola Temben. The text which is written in Amharic reads “…. right now at 12:00 AM (midday) 12 patrols, 9 Ural trucks, two oil trucks, two logistics trucks, 3 zu-23, and 6 vehicles with cannons and machine guns are traveling to Qola Temben through Shire…” The post has been shared by over 202 users. However, Haqcheck interrogated the case and confirmed that the picture doesn’t show military vehicles traveling to Qola Temben during the ongoing armed conflict in Tigray, and rated it FALSE due to the usage of an inaccurate image to support the claim.
Since 4 November 2020, there has been armed fighting between the TPLF-led regional forces and Federal government-led forces in Tigray. The federal government controlled the regional capital city, Mekelle on 28 November 2020. It has also recently announced that it was rapidly capturing senior civil and military officers of the TPLF. Some of the senior civil and military leaders of the TPLF-led force have also been arrested.
However, guerrilla fighting and instabilities have continued in the region during the post-war period. Recently the Ethiopian army announced that the ‘TPLF clique force’ has tried to escape to Sudan but was prevented.
It is in this context that the post was shared by the user making strong allegations that a large force of the Ethiopian National Defense Force is crossing Shire and going to Qola Temben. However, a reverse image search of the picture used in the post doesn’t prove the claim. The image was first published on 8 January 2019 on Twitter. The image was posted on Twitter to a replay to a tweet by the name Daniel Berhane which claims local residents in Shire blocked the journey of several military trucks. The original post can be accessed with the following link.
Granted, there are claims of guerrilla fighting in Tigray while the government announced the war is over and is hunting TPLF criminal cliques. However, HaqCheck has interrogated the post and confirmed that the image doesn’t show several Ethiopian military vehicles going to Qola Temben and therefore rated it as FALSE due to the usage of an inaccurate image.
Fact Checked by: Hagos Gebreamlak
Edited by: Eden Tafesework
The following article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking running in five languages (Affan Oromo, Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, and English)
There was a Facebook post made on 7 April 2021 by a Facebook page named Ogaadenia Media (a page with more than 61,000 followers). The pictures posted showed a BattleTank and a soldier who held a Sudanese flag in his hand. The text written in Somali reads “BREAKING NEWS, There is a heavy war between Sudan and Ethiopia… Sudanese forces attacked the Ethiopian army sitting in the ‘mersh’ area on the border of East Sudan and Ethiopia… The war is taking place in the North East of Umm-Rakuba, Sudanese army said they took over several areas… Sudan has said that their army has fully taken over ’12 KM’, they claimed that they attacked the Ethiopian military base and killed many Ethiopian soldiers. The Ethiopian government has not said anything about the war. Share this for your friends…’’. The post also mentioned ‘Sudan Tribune’ and ‘Sudan News’ as its source. HaqCheck has interrogated the post and concluded the post is FALSE due to the inaccuracy of the images to support the claim.
There have been armed clashes around the Ethio-Sudanese border since November 2020. The Sudanese Armed Forces stated that they reclaimed territory in the Salam Bir and Mahaj areas in El Gedaref from the Ethiopian army and armed militias. On 31 December 2020, Omar Qamareddine, Sudanese foreign minister, declared restoration and full control over all territories along the Ethio-Sudanese border taken over by Ethiopian farmers. The countries have been in talks and negotiations to settle the issue and demarcate the boundary despite being in vain. Recently, Sudan has accepted an offer by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to mediate with Ethiopia over the contested territories.
On the other hand, The talk that was held in Kinshasa between Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia over the Renaissance dam ended on 5 March 2021, with no progress made. Days after the talk, Sudan has reportedly asked the United Nations to withdraw Ethiopian troops from Abyei.
In this context, the image was shared where several claims were made; that a fierce battle had broken out between Sudanese and Ethiopian forces this morning Hours ago, that the Sudanese army attacked an Ethiopian military base near Mersh on the Ethiopian border seizing large swathes of territory from Ethiopian forces and killing scores of soldiers. However, a reverse image search of the Facebook post’s picture doesn’t prove the claim. The first image was posted by a Facebook page named Sudanese Military Establishment on 12 March 2017. The post mainly talks about the story of the Tank and its use. The second picture can be found along with other pictures on a Facebook page named sudanese.armed.forces and it was posted on January 17, 2021. The post talks about sovereignty and victory.
The Sources that the Facebook post mentioned also don’t have any news related to the issue.
It is evident that there have been armed conflicts along with the Ethio-Sudanese border areas, between Ethiopian and Sudanese forces. However, HaqCheck has interrogated the claim and confirmed that the images don’t show the Sudanese forces that destroyed an Ethiopian military base killing Ethiopian soldiers. Therefore, it has rendered the post FALSE due to the usage of an inaccurate image to support the claim.
Fact checked by: Endalkachew Teka Edited by: Rehobot Ayalew
This article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking initiative, run by its R&D Department.
On 7 April 2021, a Facebook page named Sidaama Today (a page with more than 22,000 followers) made a post, showing three pictures. The first picture shows military vehicles with other pedestrian troops, the other two pictures show a line of different vehicles, military pickup cars, and buses. The post claims that the government is needing additional forces in the action that is being taken to destroy OLF Shene and they were stuck on the road. The text written in Amharic reads “Breaking news; Additional forces from the Amhara militia and Shabia forces that were heading to West Wollega and Kelem woreda in order to support the government’s intense action against OLF Shen, are forced to be stuck because the road was blocked. Today, the Oromo people are proving that they are on the side of the OLF.” HaqCheck has interrogated the claim and confirmed that the post is False due to the inaccuracy of the images to support the claim.
Following the attack that killed an unknown number of civilians in Bone Kebele, Babo Genbel Woreda, West Welega Zone of Oromia State on 30 March 2021, the Oromia regional state gave a statement on 31 March 2021, expressing deep sorrow to the government of the Oromia regional state and passed its condolences to the victims’ families and relatives. It was also stated that the OLF Shene is the one behind this terrorist act and according to the statement the regional state’s government responded quickly to the scene of the attack and retaliated against the perpetrators taking action once and for all. It was also reported that The Oromia regional state said it is working to bring peace to the region by beating and smashing the OLF Shene in 15 days.
However, a reverse image search of the image shows that the pictures were posted in the past with different scenarios. The first image can be found in a Facebook post by the official Facebook page of FDRE Defense Force, even though the date written in the image says “04/03/2021”, the picture was posted on 26 December 2020 with a story of a soldier that was injured during the “law enforcement” in Tigray. The other 2 pictures are found in another Facebook post by the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Transport – Ethiopia, posted on 3 February 2021 to give appreciation for the Civil bus drivers that helped the military by moving the forces in the “law enforcement” in Tigray.
Despite the reports that the government is “taking action” by attacking the OLF Shene, HaqCheck has confirmed that the Facebook post claiming that additional forces that were heading to attack OLF Shene are stuck on the road is False due to the inaccuracy of the image to support the claim.
Fact checked by: Rehobot Ayalew
This article is part of HaqCheck, Addis Zeybe’s multilingual fact-checking initiative, run by its R&D Department.
