As Ethiopia and Eritrea edge closer to military confrontation, artificial intelligence is adding fuel to the fire. Since late 2023, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has insisted his country needs direct sea access, often pointing to Eritrea’s Assab port. Troop movements near the border have heightened fears of conflict, but the battle is also raging online.
AI-generated images and videos depicting military dominance, humiliating rival leaders, and glorifying war as quick and painless are spreading rapidly on social media. These posts attract thousands of reactions within hours, with comment sections filled with threats and violent rhetoric.
Experts warn that such fabricated visuals can spark real anger and fear, especially in countries with limited digital literacy. Ethiopia ranks low on global digital skills, meaning many viewers struggle to distinguish fake content from reality. Past conflicts, like the Tigray war, showed how online propaganda can escalate violence; now, AI is turbocharging that effect.
Journalism scholars and AI experts argue that tech companies must step in to remove harmful content and that media literacy programs are urgently needed. Without them, false digital narratives risk steering public opinion toward confrontation instead of peace.
