Speculative and conspiratorial information that is shared as part of a larger trend mostly not based on facts or partially based on a news story or a report that is taken out of context and at times manipulated

S. Sudan is the first country to conduct national exams since Covid-19 emerged in Africa, Education Minister makes a false statement

Author: Emmanuel Bida, AFF-Cohort 1 fellow

On Monday this week, 34,536 candidates across South Sudan began their 2020 Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations – a landmark ceremony that was officiated by President Salva Kiir Mayardiit, who ranged the bell at Juba Day Secondary School situated in the capital Juba.

During the occasion that was attended by various senior government officials including the presidential advisor on national security affairs – Tut Gatluak, the General Education and Instruction Minister – Awut Deng Acuil verbally lied to the public.

Minister Awut confidentially stated that South Sudan was the first country in Africa to conduct national examinations since the emergence of the novel coronavirus, which led to the closure of numerous schools and learning institutions across the continent, in adherence to the World Health Organization Covid-19 preventive measures.

This is what Minister Awut said:

“Your excellency, as time closed for the bell, the Ministry of General Education on behalf of its officials, teachers and students would like to present a small token of appreciation for keeping the education candled on in a very difficult time; time of COVID-19 and economic hardship but you never forgot that education is a priority and for that reason, we are the first country in Africa to conduct our national examination. So we are very happy to present to you this gift on behalf of the teachers and children?”

But when fact checked by 211 Check, it was identified that the Education Minister made a false statement.

In addition, 211 Check team found that some East and West African countries had conducted their national examinations.

As part of know your facts, below are some examples of the countries that conducted their national exams;

In West Africa, the West Africa Examinations Council (WEAC) conducted the West Africa Senior School Certificate of Education exams, which started on 17th of August 2020 and ended on September 12, 2020.

https://www.myschoolgist.com/ng/waec-may-june-timetable-free/

In East Africa – Uganda, the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Examination started on the 1st March, 2021 and will end on the 6th April 2021.

https://uneb.ac.ug/ple-uce-uace-timetables-for-2020-out/

Background on the closure of schools and learning institutions in South Sudan

Schools and all learning institutions in South Sudan were closed on March 20, 2020 through a Presidential order, as part of preventive measures intended to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Six months later, the Ministry of Education and Instructions announced the reopening of schools for candidate classes only on 5th October 2020.
The Ministry also announced that other classes will resume on 5th April, 2021.


The Certificate of Primary Education Examinations in South Sudan started on 15th February and ended on 19th February this year.

Usually, primary examinations are conducted in November, while secondary schools exams are conducted in December of every year. However, due to delays linked COVID-19 crisis, the schedules were interrupted.

NOTE: South Sudan isn’t the first “AFRICAN COUNTRY” to conduct national examinations since the onset of the Covid-19.

Beware of CLAIMS AND FALSE STATEMENTS made by politicians, for they can make you a victim or an agent of mis/disinformation.

To know about our fact-checking process, click the link below, https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or contact us via 211check.org to present a claim, our team will immediately fact-check it and send you an immediate feedback.

Warrap State governor bodyguards are all live, he wasn’t attacked

Warrap State governor didn’t fall into an ambush, all his bodyguards are alive, his Press Office has confirmed.  

Gen. Aleu Ayieng, the recently appointed governor of Warrap State in the unity government was not attacked and none of his bodyguards is dead, according to Albino Kuek – the governor’s Press Secretary.  

Kuek told 211 Check that the governor is on a State tour mission aimed at creating trust and peaceful co-existence among communities of Warrap and its neighbors.  

But the Facebook post which is now deleted by the poster, though it was screenshot by 211 team alleged that the governor fell into an ambush along Tonj South County road – an incident the poster claimed left 6 of his bodyguards killed.

“Aleu Ayieng, the governor of Warrap State is reported to have escaped an ambush on his way to Tonj South County, the attackers have claimed lives of 6 bodyguards when they attempted to exchange fire with armed youth, Emmanuel Monychol Akop and other reliable sources on ground have claimed” reads the Facebook post which is now deleted.

However, the link Facebook post still exist, and the screenshot can be seen below – https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2889732944643893&id=100008216473945&sfnsn=mo

Alleged post regarding the governor’s attack

The report also claimed that the development was confirmed by The Dawn Daily Newspaper Editor in Chief – Emmanuel Monychol Akop who is currently in Warrap State.

But when contacted by 211, Emmanuel Monychol said he didn’t share any information of that sort, stating that the news was misleading, “the move was designed as an attempt to spoil my public image”.

In a press statement issued by Albino Kuek Deng, Warrap State Governor’s Press Secretary seen by 211, he described the news as misleading information professed by anti-peace elements who want to cause confusion among the peace loving citizens of Warrap State.

“The Governor [Aleu Ayieny] is currently conducting rallies, disseminating peace messages. He is in Rualbat Payam of Tonj North County and will proceed to Kirrik Payam thereafter. The place is calm for the past two days the Governor has been here,” Albino said in a statement.

To know about our fact-checking process,  click the link below, https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or contact us via 211check.org to present a claim, our team will immediately fact-check it and send you an immediate feedback.

A misleading Image!

211 Check, reverse image searched the alleged picture of Tore Payam, Yei River County that was posted by a South Sudanese and was later reposted by media houses like Hot in Juba.

According to Yandex, Tineye, Google Images and other online fact-checking engines, the picture’s origin is from Equatorial Guinea. Below is the link to the result search, https:/statemag.state.gov/2020/03/0320pom-2/

211 Check wrote to “Hot in Juba management” and they agreed to remove the post – a great professional move. Cheers!

Note: to avoid spreading false information, don’t rush into sharing content that you aren’t sure of or you don’t know its origin.

The post was fact-checked by Emmanuel Bida, AFF-South Sudan Program fellow.

To know about our fact-checking process check the link below, https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or contact us via 211check.org to present a claim – our team will immediately fact-check it and send you an immediate feedback.