Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London,March 29፡2025 (Tigray Herald)
Exposing Assenna TV’s Distorted Half-Truths: The Hidden Agendas Behind the Massawa
Incident
Introduction
The recent Assenna TV program covering the illegal detention of Azerbaijani-flagged cargo
ships by the Eritrean regime in the port of Massawa has raised serious concerns. The claim that Eritrean forces intercepted the vessels to prevent arms smuggling to Ethiopia is only part of the story. However, a deep investigative analysis by Horn of Africa Geopolitical Review (HAGR) and
leading international political and security experts reveals a more complex and troubling
reality—one that exposes a web of criminal enterprises, media distortion, and hidden agendas designed to mislead the public.
Assenna TV’s Role in Spreading Half-Truths
Amanuel Eyasu, head of Assenna TV, has framed the incident in a way that omits critical facts and misrepresents the true nature of the crisis. His reporting not only distorts reality but appears
to be deliberately aligned with vested interests, serving the agendas of criminal networks benefiting from illicit trade in the Horn of Africa.
A half-truth is a statement that contains elements of truth but is designed to deceive by omitting crucial details or presenting information selectively. In this case, Assenna TV failed to disclose:
The key figures truly behind the illegal arms trade in the region.The deep-rooted connections between Dawit Gebregziabher, a notorious business tycoon
involved in smuggling, and the Eritrean regime.The role of the TPLF splinter group and its networks in benefiting from illicit arms trafficking.
Dawit Gebregziabher:
The Criminal Mastermind Behind the Smuggling Enterprise HAGR’s investigation has uncovered compelling evidence implicating Dawit Gebregziabher, a
close associate of the Eritrean dictatorship and the brother of Monjorino—a key member of the TPLF splinter group—in orchestrating large-scale arms trafficking, smuggling, and contraband trade.
Key Findings:
Dawit Gebregziabher has been instrumental in supplying illicit arms through Eritrea, fueling
instability in Ethiopia and the broader Horn of efforts His smuggling network extends into the Middle East and North Africa, facilitating black-market arms deals.
He has been a key financial supporter of media outlets like Assenna TV, ensuring that narratives align with his business interests and protect the Eritrean regime from exposure.
The Massawa Ship Detention:
A Manufactured Crisis?
While Eritrea’s detention of the Azerbaijani cargo ship constitutes an act of piracy, a critical question remains: who orchestrated the shipment of weapons in the first place? Intelligence sources indicate that the detained ships were allegedly transporting heavy weapons to Ethiopia via Djibouti. While the Eritrean regime claims to have intercepted an arms shipment, this narrative conveniently ignores its own deep involvement in facilitating illegal arms deals through
figures like Dawit Gebregziabher.
Why Has Amanuel Eyasu Become a Mouthpiece for the Eritrean Regime and Failed TPLF Elements?
The central question arising from Assenna TV’s distorted reporting is: why has Amanuel Eyasu selectively disclosed information, shielding key actors involved in criminal enterprises?
Possible Explanations:
- Financial Influence: Assenna TV has received undisclosed funding from figures like Dawit
Gebregziabher, ensuring that its reporting protects the interests of criminal networks. - Political Alignment: Amanuel Eyasu has aligned himself with remnants of the failed TPLF
faction and Eritrean regime operatives who aim to control narratives for their own survival. - Intentional Media Manipulation: By presenting half-truths, Assenna TV is deliberately
misleading the public, creating confusion around critical geopolitical events.
HAGR’s Warning to the International Security and Diplomatic Community
The exposure of Dawit Gebregziabher’s international criminal network is only the tip of the iceberg. The Horn of Africa remains plagued by undocumented illicit activities, orchestrated by powerful actors with deep financial and political connections.
The Eritrean regime under Isaias
Afwerki, alongside figures like Dawit Gebregziabher, continues to undermine regional security through arms smuggling, gold trafficking, and destabilization efforts Key Takeaways for International Security Experts: The illegal arms trade in the Horn of Africa is a growing threat requiring urgent international intervention.
Eritrea’s regime is not only enabling smuggling operations but also weaponizing piracy as a geopolitical tool.
Independent investigative bodies must expose media platforms like Assenna TV that distort facts to serve vested interests.
Conclusion
Assenna TV, under Amanuel Eyasu, has evolved into a propaganda tool for criminal networks,shielding key actors involved in illicit activities while misleading the public. The international community must remain vigilant in exposing media distortions and holding those responsible for criminal enterprises accountable.
HAGR calls for an independent investigation into the true forces behind the detained Azerbaijani ships and demands full transparency regarding Eritrea’s role in illegal arms trafficking. The truth must not be buried. The stakes for regional security, economic stability, and geopolitical integrity are too high to allow half-truths to shape critical narratives.
