A social media post circulating on September 24, 2018, claimed that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed had passed away. The post, which was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, stated that the Prime Minister had died after a prolonged illness. However, further investigation by PesaCheck, a fact-checking organization, revealed that the information was false.
PesaCheck conducted an investigation, reviewing various online sources, and found that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was indeed alive. Just a few days after the false report of his death was circulated, on September 28, 2018, the Prime Minister's office released photos of him signing a cooperation framework agreement between the Ethiopian National Bank and the International Finance Corporation.
The presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the agreement ceremony was also reported by various media outlets. Additionally, on the same day, he held a bilateral discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. These public appearances confirmed that the Prime Minister was alive and active.
Despite the widespread circulation of the false report, no credible media outlet was found to have reported on the Prime Minister's death. PesaCheck's investigation concluded that the social media post claiming Abiy Ahmed's death was false. This fact-checking exercise is part of PesaCheck's ongoing efforts to verify information and debunk misinformation on social media platforms.
PesaCheck is an independent fact-checking organization that works with social media platforms, including Facebook, to identify and flag false information. The organization is part of Code for Africa, a civic technology and media network that aims to promote accountability and transparency in Africa. PesaCheck's work is supported by various partners, including the Deutsche Welle Academy.
The false report of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's death highlights the risks of misinformation on social media and the importance of fact-checking. PesaCheck's investigation and findings demonstrate the need for verification and scrutiny of information, especially when it concerns public figures and sensitive topics.
PesaCheck's managing editor, Doreen Wainaina, oversaw the publication of this fact-check. The organization's senior copy editor, Mary Miti, and Cedric Iracaze contributed to the investigation and writing of the report. PesaCheck is committed to providing accurate and reliable information to the public, and its work is widely recognized as a leading example of fact-checking in Africa.
Key points
- The social media post claiming Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's death was false and without basis.
