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TikTok Legal Department
TikTok Inc.
5800 Bristol Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
United States
Dear TikTok Legal Department,
Re: A Plea for Action Against Hateful, Misleading, and Manipulative Contents on TikTok (Our Ref 241019T)
We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the hateful misinformation and disinformation currently trending on TikTok, aimed at inciting division and hostility between the Oromo and Amhara people—Ethiopia’s two largest ethnic groups. This is a matter of grave urgency.
What is particularly disturbing is that this harmful propaganda is being led by individuals who appear to be educated and well-informed, fully aware of the consequences of their actions. These individuals are not merely voicing opinions but engaging in gaslighting—twisting facts and misrepresenting cultural expressions to create fear and foster violence. They exploit false equivalences, presenting metaphorical language in songs and speeches as literal calls for violence, recklessly framing these misinterpretations as evidence of genocide.
What makes this even more dangerous is that their followers are often impressionable, with limited exposure to diverse perspectives. Such propaganda, when absorbed uncritically, poses a real threat to societal harmony, potentially leading to acts of violence and communal strife. There is already clear evidence of violence fueled by false propaganda, particularly during the Tigray war in Ethiopia nearly four years ago, involving the same offenders who are the subject of this petition.
One of the central targets of this hate campaign is the popular Oromo song “Warraa Boolee,” which has garnered over 8 million views on YouTube in just two months. This song, a cultural expression, has been grossly mischaracterized by these propagandists as inciting violence and genocide against the Amhara people—a baseless claim that distorts its meaning entirely. Needless to say, this puts the singer of this popular song in great danger—a sobering reminder of the hate-fueled assassination of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, the iconic Oromo singer, on June 29, 2020.
Similarly, the recent Irreechaa cultural thanksgiving festival of the Oromo people, a celebration of peace and unity, was met with vitriolic attacks. While the propaganda surrounding the festival was concerning, the targeted distortion of “Warraa Boolee” is especially alarming, as it falsely portrays the song as a direct insult and a rallying cry for genocide, which it categorically is not.
At the root of this hateful rhetoric lies what can only be described as the “Politics of Envy.” Certain Amhara elites, unable to reconcile with the diminishing political dominance they once held, have resorted to a relentless campaign to demean and vilify the Oromo people and their culture. This dangerous narrative has been festering for years, but the recent escalation of these attacks is deeply concerning and poses a significant risk to peace.
We urgently call upon TikTok, as a leading digital platform, to take swift action by banning the individuals who are using your platform to spread this dangerous and divisive propaganda. The consequences of inaction are too great to ignore—what starts as online vitriol can easily spill over into real-world violence.
While it is challenging to provide an exhaustive list of offenders, we have included below a list of some of the most egregious propagandists who have been at the forefront of this campaign. We urge you to review their content and take decisive action to prevent further harm.
Please note that most of the individuals listed below are using fake names. Additionally, it is difficult to pinpoint every offensive content or statement, as these comments often appear in group discussions and are removed shortly after the intended messages have been disseminated. Nevertheless, the individuals and group listed are consistently involved in sharing opinions, participating in discussions, or spreading false information, all with a common objective: inciting violence through gaslighting.
- Amhara Aquila (አማራ አኪላ): @amharaaquila, also under different account variant names @amharaaquila3;
- Mesay Meknonnen: @mesaymekonnen; @messymekonen; mesay_mekonen; armagedeon07 (also መሳይ መኮንን and variants)
- Ethio 360 Media: @ethio360media0; @ethio360official; @ethio360mediastudio1;
- Habtamu Ayalew: @habtamuayalewteshome;
- Zemedkun Bekele: @zemedkun.b
- Dani Boy: @dani.boy024; @dani.boy248; @dani.boy244
- Mota Kraniyo (ሞጣ ቀራንዮ): @motakraniyo and several variants (@motta keraniyo; @mottakeraniyo2; @mottakeranyo.2; @mottakeraniyoo2; etc)
- Teddy Hawassa: @teddygetahun7 hosts very offensive discussions featuring @Amharaaquila.
Offensive Content Samples:
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMhPTgu7B/
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMhPsnk3N/
Sincerely,
Global Oromo Community
An Alliance of Oromos Against Hateful Propaganda by Amhara Elites
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Website: https://oromo.community/
URL for this letter: https://oromo.community/campaigns/petition-letter-to-tiktok/