Image shows design concept for a bridge in Kazakhstan, not roads in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction, causing controversy along the way. A photo that has been circulating on social media purportedly shows the roads leading to a new palace being constructed in the capital. However, this is false: the photo shows an architectural design for a bridge in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan. 

The post, published in Amharic on March 26, 2024, reads: “We are working hard to realise a better future. Our prosperity (party) is known for building attractive areas.”

Prosperity Party is the ruling political party in Ethiopia.

“Here is Piassa, Arat Kilo, Kebena, Shola and all the way that leads to our Chaka palace,” the post adds.

“Chaka Palace” is a multi-million dollar national palace being constructed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government in Addis Ababa.

Piassa, Arat Kilo, and Kebena are major areas in Addis Ababa and the post claims the photo purportedly shows roads in these areas leading to the new palace.

The post was also shared here, here and here. Most of the accounts that shared the claim are affiliated with the ruling party.

Addis Ababa reconstruction 

In May 2022, Ethiopian media reported that Abiy had initiated (archived here) a project to build a new national palace estimated to cost 49 billion Ethiopian birr (about 900 million dollars). The palace is being built on a 503-hectare plot of land adjacent to Yeka Hill in the city, with a 29 kilometre road network.

The state-owned Ethiopian Construction Works Corporation began work on the project in collaboration with three other companies contracted by the government. On January 13, 2024, a state media outlet published updates (archived here) regarding the project’s progress.

As part of the reconstruction of Addis Ababa, the city administration has also recently carried out major demolition work. International media reported (archived here) that this has already led to grievances about the displacement of residents and damage to historical sites. The recent demolition targeted historical Piassa, a neighbourhood of Addis Ababa known for its old buildings and shops.

However, the photo does not show the new roads leading to Chaka Palace in Ethiopia.

Kazakhstan bridge

AFP Fact Check conducted reverse image searches and found that the photo shows a design for a bridge in Almaty, the former capital of Kazakhstan.

The image was originally published on the official website of Atrium Architecture, which developed the design in 2021 (archived here). The project is named “Pedestrian Green Bridge.”

According to the website, the intended bridge would connect two recreational spaces in Almaty — the botanical gardens and the Sunkar ski-jumping complex.

However, there is no indication the project was approved, let alone completed. Keyword searches were fruitless and there is no sign of the bridge traversing Al-Farabi Avenue on Google Maps.

AFP Fact Check has contacted Atrium Architecture to find out whether the bridge project was underway, and this article will be updated when a response is received.

AFP has previously debunked a similar claim here.