The use of digital media in political protest in Ethiopia
In the aftermath of the political demonstrations in the Arab world in the first half of 2011, potent forces sought to awaken a similar movement in Ethiopia. The initiative gathered youth as well as veterans, representing Ethiopians in the diaspora as well as members of the local community. Campaigners used digital media to spread their message, spearheaded by the slogan “Beka!” (meaning ‘enough’ in Amharic). The campaign was supposed to boom on 28 May 2011, when a large rally was scheduled in Addis Ababa and people would join from around the world in interlinked protests.
However, the attempt to use digital social media to spread the Arab Spring to Ethiopia was a failure. Very few of the 3,000 people who had confirmed on Facebook that they would show up at the rally, actually appeared. Instead, the ruling party seized the day to make their own celebrations of 20 years of EPRDF rule. Worldwide “Beka!” protests were insignificant. All this despite massive social media campaigning which extended far beyond the local websphere, engaging supporters from around the globe.
This contribution attempts to discuss why the Arab Spring never came to Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on the role of the digital media. A focal point in the discussion is the role and potential of citizen journalism in Ethiopia. Though small, Ethiopia has a highly active digital community serving the world media with news from a country hosting a limited number of foreign correspondents. Drawing on recent literature regarding the role of the digital media and citizen journalism in the Arab uprising, the paper points to similarities and differences in comparison with the Ethiopian situation.
However, the attempt to use digital social media to spread the Arab Spring to Ethiopia was a failure. Very few of the 3,000 people who had confirmed on Facebook that they would show up at the rally, actually appeared. Instead, the ruling party seized the day to make their own celebrations of 20 years of EPRDF rule. Worldwide “Beka!” protests were insignificant. All this despite massive social media campaigning which extended far beyond the local websphere, engaging supporters from around the globe.
This contribution attempts to discuss why the Arab Spring never came to Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on the role of the digital media. A focal point in the discussion is the role and potential of citizen journalism in Ethiopia. Though small, Ethiopia has a highly active digital community serving the world media with news from a country hosting a limited number of foreign correspondents. Drawing on recent literature regarding the role of the digital media and citizen journalism in the Arab uprising, the paper points to similarities and differences in comparison with the Ethiopian situation.
Publisert i Paper presented at the 5th conference of the East African Communication Association, Nairobi, Kenya, 2015
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