Ethiopian broadcaster targeted with false claims about popular figures joining armed rebels

Yahoo

06-05-2025

Ethiopia is plagued by armed conflicts in the country's two most populous regions: Oromia and Amhara. Facebook posts claim Oromia Media Network (OMN), a US-based broadcaster, reported that a former Ethiopian peace minister
as well as a popular singer ha d joined the rebel Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The posts also contain links to videos that are purportedly a part of the news reports. However, the claims are false: OMN denied publishing the alleged reports, which AFP Fact Check found to be fabricated. The YouTube links are also old and misrepresented.
'Breaking news,' reads a Facebook post published on April 23, 2025, in Afaan Oromoo. 'OMN reported that Taye Dandea has joined the rebels in the jungle.'
Screenshot of the false post, taken on April 28, 2025
A screenshot with a picture of Taye Dandea, the former peace minister, adds that he has now joined the OLA and has 'sent a message from the jungle'. In the picture, Taye is wearing braids, a popular style with OLA fighters.
The other half of the screenshot shows a picture of a news presenter from Oromia Media Network (OMN), an independent television station broadcasting from Minnesota in the United States.
A link in the post leads to a YouTube video of a telephonic interview with Taye, who says Oromia is experiencing a 'war situation'.
'People cannot move freely, and all rights have been suspended. Brothers who were struggling for justice are now killing each other,' Taye says.
He also criticises the government for excluding his ministry from peace talks held with the OLA in Tanzania in November 2023.
Taye is not seen on camera during the interview but an image of him holding a microphone has been used in place.
Screenshot of Taye speaking used in the false video, taken on April 28, 2025
There is a clear jump in the video at the 2'13' mark, at which point a different OMN programme host appears on the screen and proceeds to talk about Taye's political career.
Controversial politician
Taye was arrested in December 2023 by federal police after he shared a dismissal letter from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on his Facebook page and described the country's leader as 'a savage playing with human blood' (archived here).
He was accused of collaborating with rebels in the Oromia region and was detained for a year before being released on bail in December 2024 (archived here).
Armed conflict has been raging in Oromia between the government and the OLA, with peace talks in Tanzania ending twice without agreement (archived here).
However, the claim that OMN reported on Taye joining the OLA is false.
Taye's interview
AFP Fact Check used keyword searches to find the original video.
The results established that it comprises two pieces of footage from different media outlets.
The first two minutes of the video come from a BBC Afaan Oromoo interview with Taye, published on December 9, 2023, a few days before his arrest (archived here).
The interview was originally more than 38 minutes long and excerpts from this video, starting at 19'50', where Taye talks about the devastating armed conflict in the Oromia region, were used in the false video.
'In the Oromia region, we are experiencing a war situation. I think the results of war are understandable. Civilians are being killed and harassed,' Taye says.
'People cannot move freely, and all rights have been suspended,' he adds.
In this context, the Facebook post falsely claims that the video shows Taye's speech from the 'jungle', meaning the forested areas where OLA fighters operate in Oromia.
At no point in the interview does he mention joining the OLA.
The second part of the false video was taken from an OMN report on Taye that was based on his interview with BBC Afaan Oromoo and published on YouTube a day later (archived here).
OMN's report was originally more than 32 minutes long and covers Taye's political career and his views on the government.
Screenshots of the original OMN YouTube video (top) and the false video (bottom), taken on April 28, 2025
At the time of the two broadcasts, Taye was a member of the ruling Prosperity Party (PP).
Furthermore, reverse image searches reveal that the image of Taye with braids has been altered.
In the original photo, which was published online in March 2020, Taye had short hair. The photo was altered to give the false impression that Taye was now wearing a braided hairstyle in solidarity with the OLA (archived here).
Screenshots of Taye's original photo (left) and the altered one, taken on May 2, 2025
Singer joins OLA?
The same account shared a similar post on Facebook three days after the claim about Taye was published. The caption reads: 'OMN has reported from Ambo that Chala Dagafa has joined the OLA fighters.'
Screenshot of the false post, taken on April 29, 2025
Chala Dagafa is a well-known Afaan Oromoo singer, while Ambo is a town in Oromia.
Like the one before it, the second post included a link to a YouTube video and a claim that it shows Chala fighting alongside the OLA.
However, the link leads to a shortened version of one of Chala's music videos.
AFP Fact Check searched for the original and found it was published in October 2020. The music video is titled 'Ati eenyu?', which means 'Who are you?' in Afaan Oromoo (archived here).
As he sings, Chala expresses his community's determination to fight for their rights while subtly questioning the legitimacy of authorities.
Screenshots of the original music video (left) and the false clip, taken on April 28, 2025
Neither video shows Chala fighting for the OLA.
The post also included a photo of what appeared to be Chala holding a weapon. Again, the search results showed that Chala's image was altered.
The original image, which shows an unnamed fighter with a weapon, appears on various stock photo sites (archived here).
Screenshot from a stock photo site showing a fighter, taken on May 6, 2025
The original photo has been edited to add Chala's head and shoulders, taken from a poster of his music album, to give the false impression that he is holding a weapon and fighting alongside OLA fighters (archived here).
Screenshots of the original image (left) and the altered image, taken on May 2, 2025
Broadcaster targeted
AFP Fact Check scanned OMN's website and social media platforms and found no content related to reports about Taye or Chala joining the OLA.
OMN confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the broadcaster did not publish the alleged reports.
'This is completely false,' said Dejene Gutema, editor-in-chief of OMN. 'We did not publish the alleged news.'
OMN, with nearly three million followers on Facebook, is known for its in-depth coverage of the Oromia region.
'Social media users target OMN to get more followers by falsely using its name,' Dejene added.
AFP Fact Check previously debunked a claim targeting OMN.