A controversy erupted online after images from the 38th African Union (AU) Summit showed a map depicting parts of Eritrea within Ethiopia’s borders. The map, displayed alongside the African Union flag, also featured the Ethiopian flag in the foreground, further fueling concerns about Ethiopia’s intentions. The display sparked outrage among Eritreans on social media, who viewed it as a violation of their country’s sovereignty.
Eritrean social media users accused Ethiopia of promoting expansionist narratives and called on AU member states to condemn what they described as a dangerous misrepresentation. Many argued that allowing such a map at an official AU event undermined the organization’s core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Such deliberate map manipulation is not new and has happened before, fueling suspicions about Ethiopia’s long-term intentions toward its neighbors. Ethiopian political elites have historically viewed parts of Eritrea as rightfully theirs, despite Eritrea’s internationally recognized independence. Additionally, Addis Ababa’s recent actions, including hosting ethno-centric opposition movements, are seen by many as a signal that the Ethiopian regime is attempting to undermine Eritrean sovereignty and national security.
This incursion could also be motivated by Ethiopia’s ambitions for sea access, a contentious issue that has plunged the already volatile Horn of Africa region into a diplomatic crisis. Tensions escalated after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a semi-autonomous region of Somalia last year, sparking strong opposition from Mogadishu and further straining regional relations.
However, according to an investigation conducted by Setit, the controversial post containing the distorted map was initially posted on Fana Broadcasting Corporation’s official X page. The post has since been removed. The original post was published at 11:04 PM on February 12, 2025.
Discussions among Eritreans on social media continue to grow, with many urging the Eritrean government and regional allies to demand accountability and ensure that such actions do not go unchallenged. So far, AU officials have not publicly commented on the matter.
we must stop making a big deal about map .