Ethiopian News Outlet UMD Media Falsely Claims Ethiopian Invasion of Deba Sima, Eritrea Near Assab; Same Outlet’s also claimed that Eritrea invaded Ethiopia last week, no evidences, no satellite imagery, sources are from Ethiopia
The Canadian-based Ethiopian news outlets UMD Media falsely claimed that Ethiopia’s army invaded Eritrea’s southern Red Sea region and occupied Deba Sima village near Assab based on Ethiopian government released account.
The Same Media Pushed an Unverified Eritrean Incursion Into Ethiopia Last Week With Zero Evidence
The same media made an unverified claim of an Eritrean incursion into Ethiopia last week, quoted by Sajid Nadeem, brought no evidences, no satellite imagery of Eritrean forces inside Ethiopia or entering Ethiopia from Eritrea.
Critical Threats Could Not Confirm Eritrean Forces Inside Ethiopia Using Satellite Imagery
Even the American think tank Critical Threats could not verify an Eritrean incursion into Ethiopia and Eritrean military presence in Ethiopia based on satellite imagery. CTP has been unable to confirm unverified claims that Eritrean troops have increased their presence in Tigray since the fall of Mekele. The sources, which include the independent news outlet UMD Media, The Ethiopian Conflict Map, Sajid Nadeem, journalist and researcher Martin Plaut, lawyer and human rights activist Getachew Temare, and pro-Ethiopian federal government X account Conflict Zone, reported the presence of Eritrean forces near the border towns Irob, Rama, Sheraro, and Zalambessa. UMD Media, Getachew, and Conflict Zone reported that the Eritrean forces include mechanized units. Getachew alleged that Eritrean forces have begun digging trenches in Tigray, while Nadeem claimed that the ENDF had conducted drone strikes against Eritrean forces in the region. Analyst Rashid Abdi separately reported that Eritrean forces have engaged in a buildup on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border. The sources did not include any supporting media or evidence, and CTP was unable to verify any of the reports via supplementary sources. CTP was also unable to find any corroborating information showing Eritrean deployments or new defensive installations in reviews of satellite imagery of the aforementioned areas from October 3. The United States and European Union called on October 3 and October 5, respectively, for Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect each other’s territorial integrity and engage in dialogue.
October Report Names UMD Media, Sajid Nadeem and Martin Plaut and States Their Sources Are Not Verified
In its October report it mentioned UMD Media, Sajid Nadeem and Martin Plaut and said their sources are not verified.
UMD Media Now Says Southern Red Sea Invasion and Border Clashes Are Not Verified by Local Afar Sources
Now UMD Media says the Ethiopian-Eritrean border clashes and Ethiopia’s invasion of the southern Red Sea region is not verified according to local Afar sources. Afar Sources Dismissed Reports of ENDF Advance into Eritrea; Shelling and Troop Movements Reported Near Adigrat Today. Local sources in Ethiopia’s Afar Region who spoke with UMD Media have dismissed earlier reports that Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) troops crossed into Eritrea and captured Daba Sima, near the Bure front.
Both of UMD’s Accusations Lack Accuracy and Hard Evidence and Appear as Misinformation
Both accusations by UMD of an Eritrean incursion into Ethiopia and an Ethiopian invasion of the southern Red Sea region of Eritrea are not accurate and it seems to be misinformation, with no hard evidences.
Ethiopian State Media EBC Published an October 8 Article Claiming Evidence of Eritrean Soldiers Invading and Occupying Adigrat is unverified Then Deleted It After Exposure
Ethiopian state media EBC article of October 8 of the Adigrat reports in which it stated there are verified evidences that Eritrean soldiers have been invading and occupying Adigrat Ethiopia, connected the accusations with Ethiopia’s claims on the Red Sea, then deleted the article after I posted the article on X on Sunday said this can be used against Ethiopia at the UN and ICJ. I saved the article because I was aware the Ethiopian regime would delete and they delete but I kept it have link text and screenshot and uploaded it on X and my site. There are not verified evidence of Eritrean troops in Adigrat. It is a verification gap and unverified.
Journalists With Agendas Amplified Unverified Claims About Eritrea Using Ethiopian Outlets
Some journalists with certain agendas were using this Ethiopian news outlet and shared what can be seen as misinformation about Eritrea, such as the recent unverified Ethiopian invasion of Eritrea’s southern Red Sea region and the unverified Eritrean occupation of northern Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Side Wages Coordinated Information War to Create Facts on the Ground and Seize Eritrea’s Coast
It seems that there is a well-coordinated agenda by the Ethiopian side to wage an information war with Eritrea to create facts on the ground and to invade Eritrea and take Eritrea’s southern Red Sea coastline by force.
Why Do Journalists Spread Baseless Accusation and Misinformation Before Evidence While Ethiopian Claims Are Treated as Facts
Why would journalists intentionally spread misinformation without waiting for evidences and confirmation? Why are Ethiopian allegations taken as if they are facts?
UK NGO ACLED Employs Former Ethiopian Government Lawyer Who Makes Baseless Accusations Against Eritrea
Why is the so-called UK-based NGO ACLED having a former Ethiopian government lawyer Jelalae Getachew in a position as senior analyst for East Africa and allowed to make baseless accusations against Eritrea of Eritrean troops entering Ethiopia without providing any credible evidences?
ACLED Director Clionadh Raleigh Expressed Sympathy for Ethiopian Invasion of Eritrea’s Southern Red Sea Region
Why did the director of the UK-based NGO Clionadh Raleigh sympathize with an Ethiopian invasion of Eritrea’s southern Red Sea region? In February 2026 she said Ethiopia with its population has a right to say Ethiopia needs sea access.
Raleigh Stated Ethiopians Have 199 Reasons to Invade Eritrea and Seize Assab While Claiming Eritrea Was Ethiopian Territory
And she also stated in the ACLED report of October 2026 that the Ethiopian people and government have 199 reasons why they believe Ethiopia has the right to invade Eritrea and seize Eritrea’s Assab port. And she claimed Eritrea was Ethiopian territory.
She Disregards the UN Charter Condemning Wars of Aggression to Invade and Annex Another Country
She doesn’t care about the UN Charter which condemns a war of aggression to invade and annex another country.
She Misinterpreted Ethiopia’s Illegal Annexation and Occupation of Eritrea From 1961 to 1991
And she misinterpreted Ethiopia’s illegal annexation and occupation of Eritrea from 1961-1991.
All These Unverified Claims and Sympathies Form Part of a Larger Pattern of Ethiopian Information Warfare Against Eritrean Sovereignty
All of the above unverified claims by UMD Media, the sharing by journalists with agendas, the baseless accusations from ACLED’s former Ethiopian government lawyer, Clionadh Raleigh’s statements about Ethiopia having a right to invade for sea access and Assab, the deleted EBC article on Adigrat where the claimed evidence of Eritrean soldiers invading and occupying is unverified and a verification gap, and all the rest, show a coordinated effort to justify aggression against Eritrea without hard evidence or respect for international law.
Footnotes
- False claims of an Ethiopian invasion of Eritrea’s southern Red Sea region and Ethiopian forces capturing the Eritrean town of Debe Sima: https://x.com/UMDMedia_/status/2109553361066541175?s=20
- UMD withdrawing from the claim: Afar Sources Dismissed Reports of ENDF Advance into Eritrea; Shelling and Troop Movements Reported Near Adigrat Today. https://www.umdmedia.com/article/afar-sources-dismissed-reports-of-endf-advance-into-eritrea-shelling-and-troop-movements-reported-near-adigrat-today
- Critical Threats dismissing UMD Media sources (full Twitter/X version quote): CTP has been unable to confirm unverified claims that Eritrean troops have increased their presence in Tigray since the fall of Mekele. The sources, which include the independent news outlet UMD Media, The Ethiopian Conflict Map, Sajid Nadeem, journalist and researcher Martin Plaut, lawyer and human rights activist Getachew Temare, and pro-Ethiopian federal government X account Conflict Zone, reported the presence of Eritrean forces near the border towns Irob, Rama, Sheraro, and Zalambessa.[xxxiv] UMD Media, Getachew, and Conflict Zone reported that the Eritrean forces include mechanized units.[xxxv] Getachew alleged that Eritrean forces have begun digging trenches in Tigray, while Nadeem claimed that the ENDF had conducted drone strikes against Eritrean forces in the region.[xxxvi] Analyst Rashid Abdi separately reported that Eritrean forces have engaged in a buildup on the Eritrea-Ethiopia border.[xxxvii] The sources did not include any supporting media or evidence, and CTP was unable to verify any of the reports via supplementary sources. CTP was also unable to find any corroborating information showing Eritrean deployments or new defensive installations in reviews of satellite imagery of the aforementioned areas from October 3. The United States and European Union called on October 3 and October 5, respectively, for Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect each other’s territorial integrity and engage in dialogue.[xxxviii] https://www.criticalthreats.org/briefs/ethiopia-war-security-review