By: Soyome Getachew
Claim: A Facebook public group shared an image with the caption “Recent Arrests in Eritrea: reports indicate that local residents are concerned about the recent mass arrests in the southern Eritrea state of Quatit”.
Verdict: The claim is partly inaccurate and misrepresents the narrative surrounding the Quatit arrests, as it relies on an outdated image that does not reflect the current events.
The Amharic text reports a surge of mass arrests in the southern Eritrean town of Quatit, sparking growing concern among local residents. The arrests reportedly target a wide range of individuals, including business owners, young people, and citizens with relatives abroad who are critical of the Eritrean government or media. A source familiar with the situation noted the difficulty in determining the exact number of detainees or the full rationale behind the arrests, though many are said to be from Quatit. While some individuals have been released, others have allegedly been transferred to the Ala military prison, a facility known for detaining political prisoners. Those believed to support the Nhamedu Brigade movement, an opposition group, appear to be particularly targeted, with reports indicating a significant number of arrests.
On August 22, 2025, a facebook page named ’’የዶ/ር አብይ አህመድ የሁልጊዜ ደጋፊዎች /Supporters of Dr. Abiy Ahmed’’, with 213.8K members shared the claim.
MFC examined the image using reverse image search tools.
An investigation by MFC team has revealed that a widely circulated image accompanying claims of “Recent Arrests in Eritrea” is misleading. Using reverse image search tools, MFC traced the photograph to footage taken in Asmara, Eritrea, on July 6, 2008, by photographer Jacopo, as documented by the Ethnomed website. Ethnomed, a resource supporting healthcare providers working with refugee, immigrant, and migrant (RIM) communities in King County, Washington, confirmed the image’s origin. (See screenshot below).
The same photograph was previously published on July 23, 2018, by AllAfrica with the caption “Djibouti Border Dispute Could Disrupt Ethiopia-Eritrea Peace Agreement.” AllAfrica is an independent, non-governmental news organization that aggregates and produces content focused on African affairs. (See screenshot below).
Therefore, based on these findings, the use of the image in a Facebook public group post alleging recent arrests in Eritrea is partly inaccurate and does not reflect current developments.
Despite the image’s misrepresentation, credible reports from outlets such as IDN-InDepthNews continue to document a government crackdown in the southern Eritrean town of Quatit. As of August 22, 2025, local sources report that dozens of residents have been detained, fueling anxiety and intensifying regional tensions. The arrests reportedly target individuals suspected of opposing the government, including those linked to the Nhamedu Brigade movement.
Context :
Eritrea’s historical trajectory has been marked by conflict and authoritarian rule. Formerly an Italian colony, Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia in 1952 and annexed a decade later, sparking a 30-year war for independence that culminated in 1991. Following a UN-supervised referendum, Eritrea officially gained independence in 1993.
However, renewed hostilities with Ethiopia led to the Ethiopian-Eritrean War from 1998 to 2000. A peace agreement signed in 2018 restored diplomatic relations, ending two decades of animosity. Yet under the leadership of President Isaias Afwerki, in power since independence, Eritrea remains characterized by strict authoritarian governance, indefinite national service, and limited civil liberties. While the peace accord raised hopes for reform, many citizens remain skeptical, and international criticism of the regime continues amid ongoing repression and regional instability.
