Old news clip does not show Ethiopian PM appointing new Tigray leader in 2026

Conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has escalated since September, with neighbouring Eritrea reportedly deploying forces across the border. With an all-out war looming, a Facebook post shared a video of a news bulletin purportedly showing Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed appointing Tigrayan politician Abraham Belay as the new president of the fractious region. However, the claim is false; the original footage from 2021, when Abiy appointed Abraham to lead the interim administration during the first Tigray war, was edited to appear recent.