Mekelle፡Addis Abab,Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald).
Leaked Strategy Document Reveals Eritrean Embassy’s Covert Campaign to Influence Tigray Narrative
A confidential strategy document obtained by The Tigray Herald reveals that the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, DC, is coordinating a covert influence operation aimed at reshaping public perception of Eritrea’s role in the Tigray conflict. The document outlines a series of closed-door meetings held in January 2025 between Eritrean officials and selected Tigrayan and Eritrean activists in Washington and London, targeting critics of Eritrea’s regional policies.
The internal memo, marked “For Internal Use Only,” lays out a plan to “counter misinformation and misdirected critiques” through a coordinated campaign involving financial incentives, media manipulation, and selective alliance-building with individuals linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
According to the leaked summary, the Embassy agreed to provide daily financial allowances to activists and fund satellite communication tools to boost the reach of pro-Eritrean narratives. The plan includes strategic collaboration with social media influencers and Tigrayan media personalities, notably figures identified as “Stalin” and “Nathaniel,” to “neutralize accusations against Eritrean soldiers regarding genocide in Tigray.”
The campaign also aims to redirect blame for wartime atrocities onto the Ethiopian government, thereby shielding Eritrea from international scrutiny over its widely documented role in the conflict, which saw widespread allegations of war crimes, including sexual violence and ethnic cleansing.
The document further notes a deliberate attempt to manipulate media discourse within Tigray, leveraging media platforms to amplify voices sympathetic to Eritrean regional interests while marginalizing dissenting narratives.
While the Eritrean government has repeatedly denied wrongdoing during the Tigray War, this revelation raises serious ethical and legal concerns about foreign influence in diaspora communities and attempts to rewrite historical narratives.
Analysts warn that such efforts risk deepening distrust among victims of the conflict and undermining efforts toward justice and reconciliation in the Horn of Africa.
