When Tears Aren’t Dry: Political Disillusionment and Media Avoidance in Post-Conflict Tigray
When Tears Aren’t Dry: Political Disillusionment and Media Avoidance in Post-Conflict Tigray
By: Mengistu Gebremedhin, PhD student in the Department of Anthropology, Mekelle University
During my fieldwork in Aynalem, Tigray, exploring media consumption and political trust in a region recovering from devastating conflict, I anticipated finding individuals who avidly seek out information. Yet, one encounter changed my view. A week into my research, at a bustling Aynalem drinking house, my local guide and I found ourselves seated next to a man he knew: Ato Gebreegziabher. What he shared about his disengagement from media, despite being deeply affected by the war, struck me as a powerful counter-narrative to the assumption that information hunger is universal in times of crisis.
Ato Gebreegziabher, a farmer, former employee at Mekelle University, and a member of a local association for parents of martyrs, explained that his television was broken. More notably, he expressed disinterest in consuming any media, calling it “depressing.” He recalled actively avoiding Tigrigna-language broadcasts after learning of his son’s death in combat during the Tigray war. He argued that if he had truly been interested in programming, he would have found the money to fix his TV. Despite avoiding the media, his comments showed he was still aware of recent developments in Tigrayan politics, including factions within the TPLF and conflicts between the interim administration of Tigray and Debretsion Gebremichael’s camp. This suggests that although he claims to have lost interest in Tigray news, he remains informed about events. However, his information mainly came from personal networks within his community. His deep disillusionment was clear when he said, “They started quarrelling before our tears were dried,” referring to the political leaders he believed cared more about power than public welfare. The split, along with blaming and counterblaming among political and military officials, caused regret among those who lost children fighting in the war. The same officials campaigning to join the fight now appear on TV, blaming each other. Furthermore, the propagandistic nature of government media’s news and programs might also explain his lack of interest. He also said law and order are missing in the region, arguing that Tigray lacks a functioning government capable of effective action. Instead, he claimed power now comes from physical strength, connections, and wealth, overshadowing formal institutions like the police and courts. He called those taking advantage of this lawlessness ‘Seb Gizie’ (opportunists of the time).
Ato Gebreegziabher’s perspective offers a vital insight often overlooked in discussions of media landscapes. It challenges the simplistic notion that everyone actively consumes formal media for political updates, especially in post-conflict environments. His story illustrates how personal trauma, coupled with deep cynicism about governance and political leadership, can lead to active media avoidance. This indicates that information gathering is not just about access, but also emotional capacity and trust. This specific anecdote serves as a poignant reminder that genuine understanding of information flow in crisis zones must account for profound human experiences, community networks, and the disillusionment simmering beneath official narratives. It encourages us to look beyond airwaves and headlines to grasp the full complexity of how societies navigate truth and power.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Secrétaire Scientifique (16 février 2026). When Tears Aren’t Dry: Political Disillusionment and Media Avoidance in Post-Conflict Tigray. UN ŒIL SUR LA CORNE / AN EYE ON THE HORN. Consulté le 4 mars 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/15p1o



