In the Horn of Africa, social media platforms like TikTok, X, and Facebook are intensifying geopolitical tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopia's diplomatic engagement with Somaliland are key flashpoints. Social media is amplifying nationalist sentiments and misinformation, with TikTok videos symbolizing control over the Nile and military alliances. Disinformation tactics, including AI-generated content and repurposed speeches, are fueling regional tensions and exploiting internal divisions within Ethiopia. The digital conflict reflects and exacerbates real-world political divisions in the region.

In the Horn of Africa, social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook are intensifying geopolitical tensions among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopia's diplomatic engagement with Somaliland are central issues, with Egypt viewing the dam as a threat. Social media has become a battleground for nationalistic and divisive narratives, with TikTok videos symbolizing control over the Nile and alliances being celebrated or criticized. The digital conflict is exacerbated by misinformation and AI-generated content, reflecting and amplifying real-world tensions. Ethiopia's alliances with regional rivals of Egypt, such as Morocco, add complexity to the geopolitical landscape. The spread of unverified content across platforms further fuels the delicate political environment.

In the Horn of Africa, social media platforms like TikTok are intensifying geopolitical tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopia's diplomatic engagement with Somaliland are key flashpoints. Social media is amplifying nationalist sentiments and misinformation, with symbolic videos and AI-generated content fueling the digital conflict. Egypt's military cooperation with Somalia and Ethiopia's outreach to Somaliland further complicate regional dynamics. Disinformation tactics exploit internal divisions within Ethiopia, while TikTok serves as a battleground for nationalist narratives.

In the Horn of Africa, social media platforms like TikTok are intensifying geopolitical tensions between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Somalia. The construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Ethiopia's diplomatic engagement with Somaliland have become flashpoints, with misinformation and nationalist rhetoric spreading online. TikTok videos dramatize these conflicts, with users from Ethiopia and Egypt symbolically representing their national interests. Egypt's military cooperation with Somalia further complicates the situation, as social media content stokes nationalist fervor and even advocates violence. Disinformation tactics exploit internal divisions within Ethiopia, with actors using past comments from figures like Donald Trump to fuel regional discord.

In July 2023, the murder of a seven-year-old girl named Heaven in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, sparked outrage and highlighted TikTok's moderation failures. The crime occurred amid ethnic tensions between the Amhara and Tigray communities. The victim's mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, shared her story on social media, leading to widespread calls for justice. The hashtag #JusticeforHeaven gained traction, with notable figures like Cardi B supporting the cause. However, the response was mixed, with some questioning the authenticity of the mother's account. TikTok user Mota Keraniyo faced backlash for spreading provocative content, while TikTok struggled to moderate harmful posts effectively. The incident underscores the challenges of moderating content on social media platforms amid complex social and political issues.

The murder of a young girl in Ethiopia has highlighted significant failures in TikTok's content moderation policies. Despite prohibitions against AI-generated content featuring minors, videos of the victim, Heaven Awot, have spread across TikTok and other platforms, raising concerns about the platform's ability to enforce its guidelines effectively.

In July 2023, the murder of a young girl named Heaven in Ethiopia's Amhara Region highlighted significant failures in TikTok's content moderation. The crime, occurring amidst ethnic tensions, sparked outrage on social media, with the hashtag #JusticeforHeaven gaining traction. Influencers like Mota Keraniyo spread inflammatory rhetoric, while TikTok's algorithm amplified such content. Despite efforts to report harmful posts, TikTok's moderation remained inadequate, allowing misinformation and AI-generated videos to proliferate. The incident underscores the challenges of moderating content in under-resourced languages across social media platforms.

In July 2023, the murder of a young girl named Heaven in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, sparked outrage and highlighted TikTok's content moderation failures. The crime occurred amid ethnic tensions in the Amhara region, exacerbated by past conflicts involving the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The victim's mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, shared her story on social media, leading to widespread support and the viral hashtag #JusticeforHeaven. However, some questioned her account, with figures like Mota Keraniyo spreading nationalist rhetoric and misinformation. Despite efforts to report such content, TikTok's algorithm continued to amplify it, raising concerns about the platform's moderation policies. The situation drew international attention, with celebrities like Cardi B advocating for justice, while misinformation and conspiracy theories further complicated the narrative.

The article discusses the ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia, particularly focusing on the clashes over the country's national identity and the violence in regions such as Oromia and Tigray. Global Voices conducted two periods of research to analyze the patterns within Ethiopia’s media ecosystem, with a focus on issues of national and ethnic identity and the Tigray conflict. The assassination of Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa and the subsequent internet shutdown, as well as opposition to the Tigray conflict, were highlighted as significant events. The research, which was qualitative in nature, observed the shifting narratives in Ethiopian media, the media's dependence on government authority, the influence of the Ethiopian diaspora, and rapid narrative changes regarding the Tigray conflict. The data set included 336 media items from over 170 sources, and the study identified 47 themes and 59 narrative frames.

Ethnic tensions between Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions have escalated into violent conflict, displacing thousands and resulting in numerous deaths. Historical grievances, resource scarcity, and political maneuvering have fueled the violence. The Ethiopian Federal Government and the ruling coalition, EPRDF, are criticized for exacerbating the conflict. The paramilitary group Polizia Liyou is accused of severe human rights violations. Regional leaders Lemma Megersa and Abdi Mohamud Omar have called for stability but disagree on the conflict's causes. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing violence and polarized rhetoric on social media.