This archive report was first published on 24 August 2021.
Published on August 24, 2021, by REUTERS
Amid an ongoing armed conflict, Ethiopia has begun developing its own social media platform to rival global services like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.
The state communications security agency announced the development of the local platform on Monday, stating that it does not plan to block the global services.
The government's decision to create a local platform comes as the country has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) since last year.
Supporters of both sides have been waging a parallel war of words on social media, with the government wanting its local platform to 'replace' Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Zoom.
Shumete Gizaw, the director general of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA), accused Facebook of deleting posts and user accounts that were 'disseminating the true reality about Ethiopia.'
International human rights groups have criticized the Ethiopian government for unexplained shutdowns to social media services, including Facebook and WhatsApp, in the past year.
Facebook's Africa spokesperson, Kezia Anim-Addo, declined to comment on Ethiopia's plans and did not respond immediately to a query about Shumete's accusations.
With about 6 million Facebook users, Ethiopia has a significant presence on the platform, but the government has been critical of Facebook's actions in the country.
