Ethiopian Fact-Checkers Navigate Life-or-Death Information Landscape

Fact-checking in Ethiopia has become a matter of life and death, particularly as fears of renewed full-scale war emerge following reports of drone strikes and clashes in late January. These tensions are amplified by the upcoming national elections in June and the critical role misinformation played during the 2020-2022 civil war between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan fighters. During that conflict, information flow was severely disrupted, with internet and phone lines cut, major roads closed, and independent reporting largely blocked. Despite these challenges, images and videos of violence circulated online, often devoid of context and difficult to verify.

Rehobot Ayalew, formerly the lead fact-checker at HaqCheck, an International Fact-Checking Network-verified organization, described how their work during the war narrowed to verifying images and videos, as this was the primary available information. She highlighted the high stakes involved, noting that a single false rumor about a rebel advance once caused an entire community to flee their homes, leading to months of hardship even when the situation was stable. Ayalew estimated that she was one of fewer than 10 full-time fact-checking practitioners in a country with a population exceeding 130 million.

The devastating civil war, which began in November 2020, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, a severe humanitarian crisis, and widespread reports of atrocities by all parties involved. Although a ceasefire was agreed upon in November 2022, the lingering impact of misinformation and the potential for its resurgence remain significant concerns for the nation's stability and the safety of its citizens.