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Fact Check: No, Riek Machar has not been hanged, but is currently on trial.

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Writer: Rufina Isaac

The claim on social media that Dr. Riek Machar has been hanged for crimes is false. The claim posted here and shared by Naath in Europe on Facebook and other pages received a lot of reactions and engagement online, yet misleading.

Screenshot of the Claim 

Facts:

Dr. Riek Machar has not been hanged, but he and the other 7 co-accused are currently facing trial in a special court on murder, treason, crimes against humanity, terrorism, and destruction of property charges. 

Given that, no sentencing has been carried out, and the court proceeding is ongoing.

The court has been holding sessions to review evidence, including documents and electronic data allegedly linked to Machar and his co-accused.

The claim is part of the disinformation meant to distort facts and incite havoc in the communities in the country.

South Sudan is still navigating a delicate peace process, and inflammatory or inaccurate claims could undermine stability.

Conclusion:

The claim on social media that Dr. Riek Machar has been hanged for “crimes now we are free of all nonsense in South Sudan” is false and misleading while the court proceeding is still ongoing, with another session expected to take place tomorrow in Juba at Freedom Hall.  

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives, but fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

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Fact-check: No, this video is not showing the SSPDF violent attack in Wau.

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Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A video claim posted on Sixty 4 Tribes Press’ Facebook page this morning, with the caption “video footage from Wau SSPDF bombardment,” is false.

The video, which portrays women and children in panic while running with gunshot sounds in the background, was not captured in South Sudan but in Nigeria.

Screenshot of the Facebook claim

Verification:

211 Check ran a Google Reverse Image search of the video claim, and it has been established that the video was not recorded in South Sudan, but in Niger state of Nigeria

Other platforms shared the video with captions portraying a violent attack by bandits in Rijau town, Niger state.

Niger State is one of the 36 states in Nigeria, which is located in the North-Central geographical zone.

Context:

There are no credible local media reports about the South Sudan People’s Defence Force (SSPDF) bombardment or attack in Wau today or recently. However, according to Radio Tamazuj, SSPDF launched today’s airstrikes in Jur River County while targeting areas under the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO).

Both Wau and Jur River Counties are part of the Western Bahr El Ghazal State.

Conclusion:

The video posted by the Sixty 4 Tribes Press page with the claim that it was the footage from the SSPDF bombardment in Wau is false and misleading. The video was not captured in South Sudan but in the Niger State of Nigeria, according to social media reports.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives, but fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.