A recent claim that spread widely on the X account, alleging that the Fano militia had killed Somaliland militia members trained by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, has drawn a lot of attention. This assertion, which was accompanied by a graphic image of deceased soldiers, underscores the prevalence of misinformation in digital spaces. In addition, the content had significant engagement and reaction on social media. However, through diligent fact-checking efforts, this claim was swiftly and effectively debunked, highlighting the critical role of verification in combating false narratives.
The first image, originally published in news outlets on August 30, 2014 depicted casualties from the Ethiopian-Eritrean war, before even Prime minister Abiy Ahmed was not Ethiopia’s Prime minister yet. . This discrepancy immediately raised red flags, suggesting the image was being used out of context to support a fabricated narrative.
A closer look on the image by itself gives credit to Sami Sallinen who is a photographer and video producer from Finland, who has lived and worked in Asmara for several years. He is a journalist, photographer and video producer who has worked in media and communications since 1991, based in England, Eritrea and Finland. During a seven-year stay in Eritrea (1996-2003) he worked for international news agencies as a journalist, photographer and videographer, and as a video producer for the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Eritrea and Ethiopia fought a border war with significant fighting occurring between the towns of Tsorona and Zalembessa. These places were the two major war torn areas and battle grounds. However, Bademe, Shiraro Alitena, Irob and so many more areas were among the prominent battlefields during the bloody war 20 years ago.Thousands died, and animosities continue to this day, with a heavy military buildup along the unmarked border.
When the war ended, the international community formed a boundary commission to delimit and demarcate the countries’ shared border. The commission was responsible for issuing a final ruling after hearing each side’s border claims. It ended in 2000 with the signing of the Algiers agreement. But peace was never fully restored as Ethiopia refused to implement a ruling by a border commission established by the agreement.
That changed when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power and met Esayas Afewerki, but the town of Badme has not yet been handed to Eritrea.
The town of Badme, the flashpoint for the 1998-2000 conflict, was ruled to be in Eritrea by the border commission set up by the Algiers peace agreement.
Prime Minister Abiy announced that Ethiopian soldiers would start pulling out from border areas, in compliance with the Algiers peace deal.
Given the backdrop of two decades of political discord and violent conflict between the two nations, it is noteworthy that various social media accounts are circulating old, graphic images from the Ethio-Eritrea War. These images are misleadingly presented as recent incidents in Somaliland, following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
The claim originated from a Somali individual whose X account displayed a clear opposition against the memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, as well as against both the Ethiopian government and Somaliland’s.
The memorandum of understanding signed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland’s president, Muse Bihi Abdi, on 1 January 2024 allows Ethiopia to lease for 50 years a 20-kilometre stretch of coastline in the breakaway Somali region and to establish a naval port there. In exchange, Ethiopia will become the first country in Africa to formally recognise Somaliland’s statehood.
The memorandum has thus prompted a furious reaction from authorities in Mogadishu, the federal capital of Somalia, which claims sovereignty over the disputed territory.
The account likely exploited the ongoing conflict between the Fano militia and the Ethiopian federal government to advance their anti-agreement agenda.
The second image, showcasing Fano fighters with flags and the statement “4ኪሎ soon,” was identified as AI-generated.
This further strengthens the conclusion that the initial claim was deliberately fabricated to manipulate public opinion.
Because of these reasons HaqCheck rated the post as false.
The internet has become a breeding ground for misinformation, particularly during times of political tension.
This case highlights the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking in navigating the digital landscape. It demonstrates how individuals can exploit existing conflicts and utilise manipulated imagery to spread misinformation for personal gain.
The spread of such false information can have detrimental consequences, increasing tensions between communities and undermining efforts towards peaceful resolution. It underscores the need for increased awareness and vigilance against misinformation campaigns, especially during sensitive political periods.