Fact-check: Achai Wiir not giving all South Sudanese artists $ 2000 each this year

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Achai Wiir, via her verified Facebook page, asserted that the post shared about her giving all South Sudanese artists $ 2000 each this year is fake news.

By Kepa Benjamin Edward

A social media post shared on Facebook by Insight Juba, an unregulated blog, claiming that Achai Wiir, a South Sudanese businesswoman and socialite plans to give all South Sudanese artists $ 2000 each this year is false.

The post which first surfaced on the 20th of April 2022 avers that the decision came after a group of Achai Wiir’s close associates informed her of the need to financially help the artists so as to push them to the next level. It got over 1.3K interactions, 295 comments and 20 shares.

“Achai Wiir to give all South Sudanese artists $ 2000 each this year. This comes after a group of her close associates informed her of the need to financially help the artists so as to push them to the next level. The project will be spearheaded by her brother,” reads in part the post that has since been debunked by both Achai Wiir and her brother.

Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post

When the post first unfolded it created a debate on social media about whether it was valid or fake. However, there are multiple reasons to question it.

First, the post isn’t satisfactory with shallow details. It has no specific dates. Second, the claim was not shared on Achai Wiir’s verified Facebook account as the case has been with her previous projects.

Achai Wiir re-shared the post by Insight Juba and stated that the claim was clearly fake news.

Her brother, Alor, told 211 Check via phone that the news was untrue.

It’s not the first time for social media users to question similar posts from Insight Juba. 211 Check has repeatedly debunked posts from them. Recently, they were fact-checked by USA TODAY here.

Conclusion 

211 Check has looked into the post claiming that Achai Wiir wants to give all South Sudanese artists $ 2000 each this year and found it to be false. Achai Wiir posted on her verified Facebook page that the claim was FAKE NEWS.

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

This fact-check has been produced as part of our incubation program under Code for Africa

Fact-check: This plane with the South Sudan flag and luggage on top is ‘digitally altered’

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A Facebook post showing a plane with luggage on top, posted by a social media user on the evening of April 21, 2022, is photoshopped and meant for satire.

By William Afani Paul

A Facebook post last evening left the audience talking after claiming to show a plane with a South Sudan flag and extra luggage tied to it.

Posted on April 21, 2022,  the image depicts a plane with a South Sudan flag carrying luggage on top.

“I am back in Juba; those who always react peacefully to my posts may come for their perfumes and other gifts. In fact, the plane could not carry everything, but we tried including extra luggage at the back of the aircraft,” says the caption of the post, which has more than 250 interactions, 150 comments, and 6 shares.

While the Facebook user who posted the photo, is known for his satirical and sarcastic posts, there was no disclaimer on the post that stated the photo was satirical, fake, or meant as a joke.

The post went viral shortly after it was posted. It was shared by a personal profile here (over 25 interactions, 45 comments and a share) and South Sudan Anataban, a controversial Facebook media and news Facebook page. It got over 1,200 interactions, 207 comments and 48 shares.

Screenshot of the misleading post

However, a Google reverse image search shows that the plane belongs to an Iranian airline called “Atrak Air”.

Original photo of the airline

Atrak Air was founded in 1993 with its headquarters in Ekbatan town, Tehran, Iran. The airline finally commenced services in 2013 with flights to three destinations with further services being added. As of summer 2018, Atrak Air suspended its operations.

The original image of the plane was digitally altered to include the South Sudan flag and the luggage tied to it.

CONCLUSION

211 Check has looked into an image in a Facebook post of a plane with the South Sudan flag and luggage tied to it and finds it to be digitally altered.

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

This fact-check has been produced as part of our incubation program under Code for Africa