This brief examines how the Ethiopian government engages with its diaspora as part of a broader strategy to manage criticism and strengthen regime legitimacy during periods of political crisis. It highlights how the state views the diaspora as both a potential asset and a source of opposition, seeking to mobilise supportive diaspora networks to promote pro-government narratives internationally while undermining dissenting voices abroad.

The brief shows that during the 2020–2022 Tigray war, the government actively mobilised diaspora communities in Europe and North America to counter international criticism through digital campaigns, lobbying, and public demonstrations. These efforts aimed to influence international narratives about the conflict and resist external pressure for political concessions. At the same time, the brief emphasises that the government’s ability to shape diaspora politics remains limited and depends largely on whether diaspora actors share the government’s political outlook.