Ethiopia accuses Twitter of pro-rebel bias

By Ameyu Etana

Ethiopia has accused Twitter of targeting accounts that are critical of Tigray rebels amid an intensifying war in the northern part of the country.

It is a "concerning trend", according to the Ethiopian prime minister's spokesperson Billene Seyoum.

''We have reason to believe that Twitter is targeting and suspending pro-Ethiopia voices that are raising awareness about the TPLF atrocities and its lies,'' she said.

Both sides have made claims in the conflict that the other party denies.

Ethiopian and Eritrean activists have used social media outlets to shape the narrative about the war.

Earlier this month Twitter temporally removed its trends function in Ethiopia, citing ''the imminent threat of physical harm''.

But some activists complained that this occurred when a pro-government hashtag was trending.

#NoMore was against perceived foreign intervention in the conflict.

The government has sent a "formal complaint" to Twitter, according to a quote from spokesperson Billene Seyoum in the AFP news agency.

Twitter has said it remains "neutral to political identity and ideology".

It says "safety" is its top priority.

Eritrea also complained to Twitter after its leading activist, who was part of the #NoMore campaign, was suspended.

This article originally appeared in BBC News.

Photo: AFP