A Facebook post shared in September 2019 claiming that over 300 TPLF fighters were captured in Welkait, Ethiopia, has been found to be out of context. The post, which included images, was investigated by PesaCheck, a fact-checking organization based in East Africa. According to PesaCheck, the images used in the post were actually taken in 2013, during a conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and TPLF fighters in western Tigray.
The conflict in western Tigray began on July 25, 2013, when Ethiopian federal and Tigray regional forces clashed in the area. The Ethiopian federal forces started the conflict by advancing from the Sudan border, near the town of Shire. Although there were social media reports of TPLF fighters clashing with forces in areas bordering the Afar region and over 300 TPLF fighters being captured in Welkait, no major media outlet reported this incident.
PesaCheck found that a report by Fana Broadcasting Corporate on September 8, 2019, stated that 300 TPLF fighters had surrendered to the Ethiopian National Defense Force near the Tekeze River. However, the images used in the Facebook post were not related to this incident. A Google image search revealed that the images had been online since 2013 and showed TPLF fighters captured by Ethiopian forces.
The images were first published on May 6, 2013, on the official Facebook page of the Ethiopian National Defense Force. They were also featured on a website in 2013. PesaCheck concluded that the Facebook post claiming TPLF fighters were captured in Welkait in 2019 was out of context and used images from a different incident six years earlier.
PesaCheck is an independent fact-checking organization that works with social media platforms to identify and flag false information. The organization is part of Code for Africa, a non-profit that aims to promote civic technology and fact-checking in Africa. PesaCheck's work is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and other organizations.
The incident highlights the challenges of misinformation on social media platforms, particularly in Africa. PesaCheck's work aims to provide accurate and reliable information to the public, especially in areas where access to credible sources is limited. By debunking false information, PesaCheck hopes to promote critical thinking and media literacy in the region.
PesaCheck's investigation into the Facebook post is part of its ongoing efforts to monitor and fact-check information on social media platforms. The organization encourages users to be cautious when sharing information online and to verify the accuracy of claims before sharing them. By doing so, PesaCheck aims to promote a culture of critical thinking and responsible online behavior.
Key points
- The Facebook post claiming TPLF fighters were captured in Welkait in 2019 was found to be out of context and used images from a 2013 incident.
- PesaCheck's investigation revealed that the images used in the post were taken six years before the claimed incident.
- The organization aims to promote critical thinking and media literacy in Africa by debunking false information on social media platforms.
