Information that is manipulated in a comedic manner, it is mostly innocuous but has a slight potential of creating misinformation or undermining legitimate factual information.

Fact-check: Is this overpass in Juba, South Sudan?

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No, the picture shows part of the Globe Cinema Roundabout on the road, joining Murang’a Road, Kipande Road and the Globe Flyover in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

An image shared on Facebook purporting to show an overpass in South Sudan is false. 

The image was posted on the Ruweng Eye page on September 30, 2023, and shows a road with a few cars along and a flyover, also known as an overpass. Multiple-storey buildings can also be seen in the background. 

The post, which was captioned “Welcome to Juba, South Sudan”, attracted several comments, some with differing opinions, which prompted 211 Check to investigate.

A screenshot of the picture from the Ruweng Eye

Investigation:

A Google Reverse Image Search shows that this picture is of  Nairobi, Kenya and has been used on various sites before. 

On June 10, 2021, The Standard Media, a news outlet in Kenya, posted a picture of the overpass from a different angle. The image is captioned ‘An aerial view of Nairobi City from Ngara’, and one can see the overpass and the tall building with blue glass windows as in the image under scrutiny.  

211 Check also found a Greyscale edit of the same photo shared on Pinterest and captioned: ‘Globe Cinema Roundabout, Nairobi, Kenya.’

A screenshot of the pin on Pinterest

A search for ‘Globe Cinema Roundabout’ on Google Maps brought the exact location of the roundabout, which is Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.   

Other instances where photos of the roundabout have been shared and attributed to Nairobi, Kenya, are here and here, 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that there is a flyover bridge in Juba, South Sudan, false. Our investigation shows that the flyover bridge is the Globe Cinema Roundabout in Nairobi, Kenya.  

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

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.

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

Fact-check: Is this tiger dog from South Sudan or Uganda?

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The tiger dog picture is from India.  

Writer: Kei Emmanuel Duku

A social media picture posted on Juba Eye and Red Pepper UG that has gone viral on Facebook in South Sudan and Uganda is false. 

In the post on Juba Eye, shared on September 25, 2023, the painted dog in Tiger colours is claimed to belong to a resident in the Jebel area of Juba, South Sudan, and police are already searching for the dog’s owner. 

According to the claim, the alleged owner painted his dog in tiger colours to scare away individuals from coming to his home to ask for the loans he had borrowed. 

The post was shared 73 times, with over 1,000 interactions, over 100 comments, and some over 70 shares by social media users. 

A screenshot of the Facebook post by Juba Eye

The same picture and claim were used by RED Pepper UG on the same day, claiming that the owner of the painted dog is called Mucunguzi from Kyeggwa, and police are already searching for him for painting his dog in tiger colours. This post gained 286 likes, 43 comments, and 18 shares on this platform.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by RED Pepper UG

While the two Facebook posts are satirical, 211 Check looks at the origin of the image in the posts.

Claim Verification:  

According to Tineye’s reverse image search, the picture was taken in New Delhi, India, on December 29, 2019, and the dog’s actual owner is Srikant Gowda, a farmer from Karnataka’s Shivamogga region. 

The publication was done in Urdu, but with the help of Google Translate, it indicated that the dog’s owner decided to paint his dog in tiger colours to scare away monkeys destroying his farmland.

Similar searching was done using Google reverse image search, revealing the same results. 

BestNewsGH.com published the story in December 2019 with the headline: A Desperate farmer paints his dog like a tiger to scare away invading monkeys.

Another source that used the picture is here.

Screenshot of the same picture as published in December 2019 on BestNewsGH.com 

Conclusion: 

211 Check found that the photo that is being shared, claiming to be from Juba and Uganda, is false. The picture originated from the Indian state of Urdu and has been online since 2016..

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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.

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

Fact-check: This excited man standing behind a lady isn’t a University of Juba student

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The picture that originated from Nigeria has been widely shared on social media but has no connection to the University of Juba or any educational institution in South Sudan.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A photo shared in a post by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page claiming that an excited man standing behind a lady is a student at the University of Juba is entirely false.

The University of Juba is an English-language public university in Juba, South Sudan. It was founded in 1975.

“Meet Calvin Pidor at the University of Jama Juba—the happiness. #TopTRENDS.” claims Top in South Sudan’s Facebook post, which generated over 200 reactions and 17 comments at publication.

But what truth does the above claim hold?

The screenshot of the picture used by Top in South Sudan

See more pictures below:-

These pictures have been trending on social media since April 2019 

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image search was conducted to verify the picture’s authenticity. This search revealed that the image has been widely used on the internet and has no specific association with the University of Juba or any educational institution.

The picture first appeared online in April 2019 and was reported to have been shared by a student of the University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State, Nigeria, according to Naijaload and Naijacover websites. The individuals in the picture have no reported connection to the University of Juba.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim made by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page, alleging it is the photo of a student at the University of Juba, false. The photo originated in Nigeria and has been circulating online since April 2019 without any reported connection to the University of Juba.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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.

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

Fact-check: Is this South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice?

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No, this is one of the statues of the Symbol of Justice found in Nigeria. 

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice is false. The image of a statue supported by a stick was shared with the caption, “South Sudan’s statue[ symbol] of justice is tired already.” 

The post had attracted 182 likes, eight comments, and three shares at publication.

A screenshot of the post as published by Insight Juba.

Claim Verification:

211 Check carried out a reverse image search using Google Lens and found instances where the image had been shared in the past. 

In one instance, the image had been posted on X (formerly Twitter) on July 30, 2017. The post reads, “Lmaoooooooooooooo even the symbol of justice in Nigeria is tired(sic).”

Screenshot of the X post. 

Other sources that published the image are listed here and here. 

However, according to various Nigerian sites, the statue was restored as reported here, here, here, here and here.

A further reverse search of the restored statue brings up a clearer image published by the Daily Post in February 2021. 

What is the Statue/Symbol of Justice?

According to LawPadi, the Nigerian Symbol of Justice is a statue of a blindfolded lady holding a sword on one hand and a scale on the other. The blindfold symbolises that justice should be impartial and, therefore, enforces neutrality.

Heather & Little Ltd, in their article, explain in detail the meanings behind the ‘Lady of Justice’ Statue:

“Artwork depicting the Lady of Justice statue, whether in paintings, sculptures, coats of arms, or metal statues, is found worldwide. In North or South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southern and Eastern Asia, or Australasia, you will likely see the Lady of Justice statue in courthouses, law offices, and legal and educational institutions. The history of the Lady Justice statue goes back many thousands of years, and she typically carries symbols of justice.”

Notably, in Nigeria, this symbol of justice is in different forms, although all the features remain the same and carry the same meaning throughout all the country’s courtrooms. 

On the other hand, South Sudan does not have a statue representing the symbol of Justice and instead uses The National Coat of Arms, which was officially adopted in 2011. It features an African fish eagle with open wings, bearing a gold shield and a crossed spear and spade placed behind the shield. The eagle is seen facing its right side and symbolises strength, resilience, and vision, while the shield and spear represent the protection of the new sovereign state and the people’s hard work to feed it.

South Sudan’s Coat of Arm

Conclusion:

211 Check found a Facebook post by Insight Juba with an image supposedly of South Sudan’s Symbol of Justice as false. The image shows a statue of Nigeria’s Symbol of Justice, which has since been rectified. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

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.

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

Fact-check: This is not President Kiir buying potatoes in Munuki Market

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The picture has been on Facebook since September 6, 2023, but its origin is unknown.

Writer: Doki Simon James

A photo shared on a Facebook post by Top in South Sudan allegedly showing President Kiir in Muniki Market, buying potatoes, is false.

Munuki is one of the largest suburbs in Juba City, with two famous main markets of  Suk Libya and  Suk Melissa close to each other.

“Kiir in Munuki Market is buying potatoes today at 4 p.m.,” claims Top in South Sudan’s Post. 

At the time of publication, this claim had attracted 211 reactions, 16 comments, and ten shares, with mixed reactions from members of the public.  A comment from one viewer, “Day by Day,”  said “Thank you for supporting this woman’s business, but you, please purchase her business with some small tip”, while another one lamented, “Photocopy of Kiir.” 

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Top in South Sudan 

Claim Verification:

On investigation, we found that the claim made by Top in South Sudan, an online blog on Facebook, is false.

Levi Kuron, a vendor at Munuki Suk Libya, told 211 Check that the President of the Republic, Salva Kiir, didn’t visit Munuki Market on the stated date and time claimed by the post. Mary Atai, who sells at Munuki Suk Melissa, also said it is untrue, citing that it is unusual.

The post used a photo of a long-bearded person wearing a black suit, a hat (attires familiar to the president), and the name Kiir to create a positive impression in the public and justify the claim that President Kiir went shopping in Munuki Market. 

However, online searches on Google reverse image search, TinEye, and Yandex could not find evidence to confirm that the photo used in the post was taken in Munuki Market or that the person in the photo was President Kiir, as it was never shared on other online platforms. 

Conclusion:

211 Check found the claim made by Top in South Sudan’s Facebook post of a man buying potatoes in Munuki market, alleged to be Kiir, as false. The president of the Republic made no such visit to the Munuki market on the claimed date and time of the post. The photo in the post was not taken in Munuki Market, and the person in the photo is not President Kiir.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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

Fact-check: This picture is not of a South Sudanese man in Gudele, Juba

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The picture has been online since August 2023, but its origin is unknown.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A photo shared in a post by Top in South Sudan, a Facebook page allegedly showing a man in Gudele, Juba, is false.

Gudele is a large neighbourhood in South Sudan’s capital Juba City.

“Gudele Man shared an amazing picture of himself and his bestie watching the music video “RELAX”….,” claims Top in South Sudan’s post.

211 Check investigation reveals that the photo shared by the page was not captured in Gudele, as claimed. 

The photo has been posted multiple times on various social media platforms by different media houses, indicating its widespread usage.

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Top in South Sudan

Claim Verification:

Upon investigation, it was found that the claim made by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page is false. Our research indicates that the photo shared by the page was not captured in Gudele, as they claim. 

A simple Google reverse image search revealed that multiple media houses have used the same photo across different social media platforms. This indicates that the photo in question is not exclusive to Gudele Man or the Top in South Sudan Facebook page. 

Several media outlets have shared the same picture in various contexts, such as travel articles, lifestyle features, and unrelated news stories. 

The photo has been circulating on the internet for some time and has no direct correlation to the claimed scenario of a man in Gudele, Juba, watching a music video.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim in a post by the Top in South Sudan Facebook page, allegedly a photo of a man in Gudele, Juba, false. The photo shared was not taken in Gudele, as claimed, and has been widely circulated across various social media platforms by different media houses.

Online fact-checking tools such as Google Reverse Image Search can help identify an image’s source and usage history. Users must exercise caution and verify claims before sharing or accepting them as true.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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.

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

Fact-check: This is NOT an image of a bridge in Juba, South Sudan

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  Evidence shows that the image is of a bridge in Moscow, Russia.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

A Facebook post publishing a picture of a floating bridge on the page of Yei Celebrity Gossip on September 7, 2023, allegedly in Juba, South Sudan, is false.

The post, which was partially captioned as  “New development in Juba, south Sudan…” attracted several comments, which prompted 211 Check to investigate.

Screenshot of the Facebook post on Yei celebrity gossip group

Investigation:

A Google Reverse Image Search results show that this bridge is in Russia. On May 21, 2023, Highway Engineering Discoveries posted a floating bridge in Moscow, Russia. Other sources that have also posted this bridge, giving clear evidence of its origin and existence, are attached here and here.

Screenshot of image of floating bridge from Highway Engineering Discoveries

The bridge was built in Zaryadye Park in Moscow, Russia, and opened in 2018. Tourists and locals mainly visit it, as it is considered a popular spot for photographers.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that there is a floating bridge in Juba, South Sudan, to be false. Our investigation shows that the floating bridge is in Zaryadye Park in Moscow, Russia.

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.

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

Fact-check: This picture is not of a house found in Jinja, Eastern Uganda

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The picture shows a house found on Riat Hills, along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway in Kenya, and has been on the internet since 2020.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A picture making rounds on the internet, claiming to be found in Jinja and built by a Kadama, is false. The picture, which was posted by Klia Media.ug on September 7, 2023, claims to show a building purportedly built by a  Kadama who works in Saudi Arabia and that she built it in Jinja, Eastern Uganda.

“Another KADAMA from Saudi Arabia, abikoze. 3 year contract in Saudi, congs Racheal from Jinja,” The post reads in part. Kadama is a slang term commonly used in Uganda, referring to someone who works in the Middle East—mainly the causal labourers and housekeepers.

Therefore, the translated post loosely means, “Another causal worker from Saudi Arabia has done it—a 3-year contract in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations, Racheal, from Jinja.”

We also see that the same page recently posted a picture of a house and attributed it to Aisha, who he says works in Saudi Arabia as a kadama. 

The post attracted 208 reactions, 51 comments, and nine shares in 24 hours. However, some comments were critical of the poster and raised suspicion, prompting 211 Check to investigate.

A screenshot of the post by Klia Media.ug.

Investigation:

A Google Reverse Image Search confirms some of the facts in the comments, as the results come with the headline, Kisumu Highway House. Bing also has the same picture, explaining its location on Kisumu Highway.

On July 30, 2020, Afande Rafiki posted this picture on his Facebook profile, followed by a caption explaining the building on Riat Hills.

 The haunted home at Riat Hills, along the Kisumu-Kiboswa-Kakamega road It belongs to a single lady. The home, abandoned since 2014 due to incessant robbery attacks, sits in an area literally known as “The Gangster Paradise”. partially read his caption.

A screenshot of the post on Afande Rafiki 

Willie Oeba, on June 11, 2021, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, tweeted this picture with a caption in the form of a question, “Where in Kenya is this house?”

On February 19, 2022, Malley tweeted this picture on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “This must be the most talked about house in Kenya.” His tweet attracted 905 reposts, 109 quotes, 9010 likes, and 104 bookmarks.

A Google Word Search for the words “a haunted house along Kisumu-Kakamega highway”  brought multiple results of the same picture of the house and different but related headlines, all explaining it is in Kenya, in Riat Hills, along Kisumu-Kakamega highway.

Many sites have reported on this house in the picture since 2020; some of them are here,   here, here, and here. As much as all the evidence shows that this house is in Kenya, there is no clear evidence to prove its owner.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that the picture of a house circulating on social media is found in Jinja and was built by a Kadama to be false. This image shows a house found on Riat Hills along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway in Kenya and has been on the internet since 2020.

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.

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

Fact-check: Did this plane crash in Munuki Miya Saba?

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No, the incident happened in Malawi.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

A post shared on Facebook on 25 August 2023 claims that an aircraft overturned in Munuki Miya Saba, a local neighbourhood in Juba, South Sudan, but this is false. 

The post is accompanied by an image of an overturned plane in an open field with onlookers nearby. 

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Yei town celebrity gossip

211 Check Investigation:

According to a Google Reverse Image Search, the image was first published on August 22, 2023, and the incident happened in a village near Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Malawi.

According to the Malawi Freedom Network, the Civil Aviation Department was investigating the cause of the plane crash which involved a light aircraft from EastRise Academy. 

Further, Malawi 24, an online news source, stated, “The people on the plane were an Instructor and a Student pilot.”

Screenshot from the Malawi24 news site. 

The incident was also reported here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that an aircraft crashed in Munuki Miya Saba, a local neighbourhood in Juba, South Sudan, to be false. Our investigation shows that the plane crashed in a village in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: This picture of two police officers kissing wasn’t taken in Juba

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No, the image was taken in Tanzania and has been used by various media houses since October 2014.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

A picture shared on Facebook of two police officers, a male and a female, kissing while donning uniforms is not from Juba, South Sudan.  

The photo claimed to have been taken in Juba, was shared by Juba Eye on August 22, 2023, and was captioned, “I love Juba traffic police; they too love themselves. Do you love your traffic police officers on Juba Streets?”

Screenshot of the picture used by Juba Eye

It had garnered 199 reactions, 43 comments, and two shares at publication. However, the comments had mixed reactions, which prompted an investigation. Some comments rained insults on the traffic police, undermining their integrity. 

The screenshot of the post by Juba Eye shows some of the comments.

Investigation:

A Reverse Image Search shows that the picture was taken in Tanzania and has been online since 2014.

On October 14, 2014, the Independent newspaper published a story featuring the image with the headline ‘Kissing Tanzanian police officers fired after photograph goes viral’. The article explains who the dismissed officers were. It goes on to name them Asumba Mwasumbi, Veronic Mdeme, and Fadhiri Linga, who took the picture, and says that they were dismissed for breaking the code of conduct of the police. 

Screenshot of the image used by the independent Newspaper

Bella Naija, a Nigerian site, also featured the same picture in a story with a similar headline on October 14, 2014. 

Further, the internet is filled with a lot of reports that clearly explain the origin of the picture, as seen from searches on Yandex and Google Lens, and some of the sources include The France 24 Observers and 9news.com

Conclusion:

211 Check found that the picture shared on Facebook of two police officers kissing while donning uniforms is not from Juba, South Sudan. The image was taken in Tanzania and has been used by various media houses since October 2014. Spreading misinformation like this is not okay; it can spoil the reputation and image of the forces and lead to mistrust from the population.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

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.

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