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How social media is fueling geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa

"TikTok, in particular, has emerged as a stage where complex geopolitical tensions are reduced, dramatized, and frequently distorted."

Two major geopolitical flashpoints fuel this online conflict: Ethiopia's construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam(GERD) on the Nile River and its recent diplomatic engagement with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region seeking international recognition. They have responded with content drawing on Ethiopia’s long history of resistance to foreign powers, including past conflicts with Egypt, framing the GERD as a symbol of national sovereignty. Further complicating the narrative, pro-Ethiopian government social media users have been highlighting Egypt’s regional rivals, such as Algeria and Morocco, in an effort to shift the discourse in Ethiopia’s favor.

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