Fake Quote Attributed to Abiy Ahmed

News is circulating on social media, and some news websites claim Ethiopian president Abiy Ahmed said, “I would rather die than hand over power to them.” It is alleged that the source of the claim is leaked audio from a high-level meeting of the ruling party, which was first shared by US-based Kello Media, which focuses on East Africa, mainly Ethiopian news. The first circulation began almost three weeks ago, just ahead of the Ethiopian elections, which started today.