Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire
  • omnibus

Disinformation in Tigray: Manufacturing Consent For a Secessionist War
New African Institute
19 May 2021
Disinformation in Tigray: Manufacturing Consent For a Secessionist War
Disinformation in Tigray: Manufacturing Consent For a Secessionist War

Corporate media in the imperial countries have spread disinformation on the real nature of the fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray state.

“Eritrea has served as the primary scapegoat.”

 

Today, New Africa Institute publishes its Disinformation in Tigray report to provide an evidence-based analysis of the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Regional State, which is an irredentist, ethnic secessionist war led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) against the multiethnic federal government. Although the conflict officially started on November 4, 2020 after TPLF, by its own admission, attacked the federal government’s Northern Command based in Tigray, this showdown had been brewing for decades.

Since the start of hostilities, there has been an explosion of disinformation in the mainstream and social media. This report carefully analyzes the causes and methods of disinformation propagation. Ultimately, the disinformation serves to manufacture consent for an unpopular irredentist, ethnic secessionist war that could not be justified in the eyes of the international public through honest reporting.

The media, non-governmental organizations and Western governments have forwarded a number of allegations of crimes upon the people of Tigray perpetrated by the Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries. Eritrea has served as the primary scapegoat. Much of the reporting of these crimes, devoid of evidence and context, has proven sensational and racist with savage-like portrayals of Eritreans and Ethiopians that draw on old colonial tropes of Africans. This report looks beyond the gaudy headlines and provides sober, evidence-based analysis of the major allegations. Significant focus is given to social media as most disinformation about Tigray originates there.

Additionally, this report assesses the nature of and problems with Western media’s overall coverage of the Tigray conflict. Lastly, it provides analysis of the actions by Western governments and likely consequences of those actions to encourage better policy decisions in the Horn of Africa moving forward.

Click HERE to scroll down and read the report, or download it.

This article previously appeared in the New African Institute website.

COMMENTS?

Please join the conversation on Black Agenda Report's Facebook page at http://facebook.com/blackagendareport

Or, you can comment by emailing us at [email protected]

Ethiopia and Eritrea

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles. Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


Related Stories

U.S. military outposts, port facilities, and other areas of access in Africa, 2002-2015 (Nick Turse/TomDispatch, 2015)
Dina M. Asfaha, Tunde Osazua
Eritrea Versus AFRICOM: Defending Sovereignty in the Face of Imperialist Aggression
01 December 2021
The rapid expansion of AFRICOM on the African continent should be a cause for concern as African nations are quickly surrendering their soverei
#NoMore Censorship of Africa’s Roving Digital Army of Peace
Simon Tesfamariam
#NoMore Censorship of Africa’s Roving Digital Army of Peace
01 December 2021
The removal of Twitter accounts advocating for peace in the Horn of Africa shows the connection between the state and big tech companies.
U.S. Escalates Threats to Ethiopian and Eritrean Sovereignty
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
U.S. Escalates Threats to Ethiopian and Eritrean Sovereignty
01 September 2021
U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman recently returned from a tour of Ethiopia, Djibouti, and the United Arab Emirates.
Ethiopians Go to the Polls Even After the US Tells Them Not to
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
Ethiopians Go to the Polls Even After the US Tells Them Not to
23 June 2021
Many Ethiopians expressed enthusiasm for what they consider the country’s first real, competitive election, writes Ann Garrison.
Ethiopia: Tribalism versus National Consciousness
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
Ethiopia: Tribalism versus National Consciousness
16 June 2021
Ethiopians struggle to forge a national consciousness that supersedes ethnic tribalism, while international human rights NGOs discuss their "respon
Prelude to War? The US/NATO, Egypt, and Ethiopian Sovereignty
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
Prelude to War? The US/NATO, Egypt, and Ethiopian Sovereignty
09 June 2021
Ethiopian American activist and community organizer Benyam Kitaw tells Ann Garrison that US hostility toward Ethiopia could lead to further sanctio
How to Wreck a Black Nation In the Age of “Black Lives Matter”
Taytu Bitul
How to Wreck a Black Nation In the Age of “Black Lives Matter”
09 June 2021
Today’s colonialists recruit Black politicians and Black terrorist groups who are willing to play along.
The Global Anti-Eritrea-Ethiopia Agenda
Amanuel Biedemariam 
The Global Anti-Eritrea-Ethiopia Agenda
07 April 2021
It is not up to the US to demand or dictate that Eritrea withdraw from Ethiopia -- it is Ethiopia’s and only Ethiopia’s call to make.  
Ethiopians and Eritreans Rally for National Sovereignty, Against US Intervention
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor
Ethiopians and Eritreans Rally for National Sovereignty, Against US Intervention
31 March 2021
Ethiopians and Eritreans from all over Northern California rallied in San Francisco for peace and for the sovereignty and self-determination of the

More Stories


  • An Unrealized Political Possibility: Remembering the Grenada Revolution
    Kevin Edmonds
    An Unrealized Political Possibility: Remembering the Grenada Revolution
    20 Oct 2021
    The United States overthrow of the Grenada Revolution in 1983 initiated a vicious and unrelenting regime of neoliberalism that has gutted the Caribbean nation.
  • Colin Powell: Iraqis Will 'not shed tears' for 2003 Invasion Architect
    Alex MacDonald
    Colin Powell: Iraqis Will 'not shed tears' for 2003 Invasion Architect
    20 Oct 2021
    Iraqis say they won't be mourning death of former US secretary of state who oversaw the catastrophic invasion of their country.
  • The U.S. Flies Alex Saab Out from Cabo Verde Without Court Order or Extradition Treaty
    Dan Kovalik
    The U.S. Flies Alex Saab Out from Cabo Verde Without Court Order or Extradition Treaty
    20 Oct 2021
    The U.S. kidnapped Venezuela's envoy Alex Saab in Cabo Verde in 2020 and rendered him to Miami without a court order or extradition treaty in violation of international law.
  • Howard University Sit-in: A Struggle for Democracy at an HBCU
    Jamal Rich
    Howard University Sit-in: A Struggle for Democracy at an HBCU
    20 Oct 2021
    Students at Howard University have historically been in the forefront of movement struggles.
  • Government of Nicaragua Rejects Interference by the OAS
    Telesur
    Government of Nicaragua Rejects Interference by the OAS
    19 Oct 2021
    The Organization of American States (OAS) is a U.S. puppet organization that is poised to delegitimize Nicaragua's upcoming election and attack that nation's sovereignty.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us