AI-generated propaganda fuels #Ethiopia–Eritrea tensions Global voices reports that Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly being used to amplify nationalist sentiment and political messaging amid growing tensions between Ethiopia and #Eritrea, according to analyses of social media activity following the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (#GERD) on 9 September 2025. Alongside celebratory posts about the dam, AI-generated videos and images circulated online promoting the idea that Ethiopia should reclaim access to Eritrea’s #Assab port. One viral video, shared on TikTok and X and endorsed by former State Minister Birhanu M. Lenjiso, featured a fictional concert at the GERD with a voiceover declaring, “From the Nile to Assab, one people, one heart.” Experts warn these AI-generated materials amount to “synthetic propaganda” aimed at normalizing expansionist rhetoric. Despite official claims that sea access will be pursued diplomatically, recent statements by Ethiopian leaders have raised fears of military escalation. Analysts say the phenomenon mirrors a global trend of using AI to manipulate public opinion, with the Horn of Africa emerging as a new arena for digitally driven geopolitical tensions. globalvoices.org/2025/10/09/…