Viral Video Misattributed: Execution Footage From 2021 Tigray Conflict, Not Amhara

A recently circulated execution video incorrectly attributed to the Amhara region is from 2021, focusing on a massacre in Tigray. This highlights ongoing conflicts and significant humanitarian issues facing Ethiopia. Fact-checking efforts reveal the video is disconnected from current events, emphasizing the importance of accurate information.

A video clip purportedly depicting an execution in Ethiopia has gone viral, but this footage has been misattributed to current events in the Amhara region. The 19-second clip, which surfaced on Facebook on May 15, 2025, features text in Amharic expressing support for the Fano militia and denouncing the ruling Prosperity Party. Critically, the video has been shared over 470 times and features a message claiming that “Amharas are being massacred. Please share this video with all.”

Scrutiny into the content reveals it dates back to 2021, set in the Tigray region and unrelated to recent atrocities. During the ongoing conflict in Amhara, the Ethiopian federal government initiated disarmament of local paramilitary groups, which prompted renewed fighting with the Fano militia. Reports indicate this conflict has led to severe humanitarian consequences, with millions of children out of school and healthcare systems collapsing. Meanwhile, the government has lost significant control over rural areas, and federal forces have engaged in deadly confrontations with Fano fighters.

Independent investigations by organizations like Bellingcat have traced the execution footage to a massacre that occurred at Mahbere Dego in January 2021. Their extensive research used reverse image searching techniques to authenticate the video, confirming it as part of a longer recording that had previously appeared on a gore website. Similar findings were supported by investigative reports from CNN and BBC Africa Eye, which documented the serious human rights violations during the Tigray conflict.

The Tigray war, driven by tensions between the Ethiopian military and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), claimed over 600,000 lives and was marked by numerous atrocities committed by both sides. A peace agreement reached in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022 brought an end to the violent struggle, though the repercussions continue to burden the affected regions. Misattributing past violence to current events, particularly in volatile contexts like Amhara, complicates understanding and adding to the existing humanitarian crisis.

In summary, the shared video footage has origins from a 2021 atrocity in Tigray rather than recent conflict in Amhara. This encapsulates a broader issue of misinformation circulating online, particularly regarding serious human rights violations during ongoing conflicts in Ethiopia. A thorough understanding of the context is crucial for meaningful dialogue and response to such tragedies.

In conclusion, the viral video claiming to show recent executions in the Amhara region is, in fact, outdated and misattributed footage from 2021, linked to the Tigray conflict. This situation underscores the importance of fact-checking and awareness of misinformation as Ethiopia navigates its complex and troubling political landscape. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen amid ongoing violence, which requires urgent attention and careful communication to mitigate further harm.

Original Source: factcheck.afp.com