Study reveals how maps fuel political conflict in Ethiopia via social media
Research into Ethiopia's 2018 political reforms reveals that maps shared on social media were used as tools of propaganda, spreading disinformation and intensifying ethnic tensions between Oromo and Amhara groups.
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A recent study by a political geographer highlights how maps have been used as instruments of propaganda in Ethiopia, particularly around the 2018 political reforms. These reforms followed widespread uprisings driven by economic inequality and political repression.
The research focuses on how social media campaigns by Oromo and Amhara groups circulated maps to challenge government-drawn boundaries. These maps aimed to expose alleged distortions by the state but also contributed to spreading false information and worsening ethnic and territorial disputes.
The study emphasizes that while maps are often seen as objective evidence, they can be manipulated to serve political agendas. This phenomenon, termed “maptivism,” shows how cartographic images can influence perceptions and conflicts, especially when amplified by social media.
Such findings underline the complex role of maps in modern political struggles in Africa, where territorial and ethnic identities are highly sensitive and contested.