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Explainer: Why cyber threats and scams remain a challenge in South Sudan?

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Misinformation and disinformation have been weaponised as tools to build trust and to create convincing narratives in phishing email messages or inbox alerts that influence users to accept or take action, whether by revealing their sensitive information.

Writer: Makur Majeng

As the digital space in South Sudan evolved, it has opened the door to cyber threats and scams from social media platforms and other online channels. The digital space continues to be the biggest driver of information dissemination among human populations, powered by both internet and mobile telecommunications penetration in the country.

Facebook and WhatsApp are widely used means of communication for a great majority. However, these platforms have become grounds for numerous cyber threats and scams—a real danger to users. 

Cyber threats are malicious acts that seek to damage data, steal data, or disrupt digital systems. It is normally perpetrated by individuals, criminal organisations, state actors, and terrorist organisations to achieve specific objectives.

Social media scams are suspicious activities by individuals who create fake profiles or pages and unexpectedly contact users on social media to gain their trust and manipulate them. A social media scammer pretends to be a friend, family member, or anybody with specific interests. 

On the other hand, they impersonate real business entities, employers, the government, and investment or online trading platforms.

This explainer provides an analysis to understand why such threats continue in South Sudan’s social media space.

Cyber Threats and Scams

According to a joint advisory issued by SafetyComm and 211 Check, in September this year, there are different categories of cyber scams rampant in South Sudan.

There have been false alarms where users receive notification messages directly in their inbox or email claiming to be sent from Meta or Facebook about page verification, violations of community standards, and copyright infringement. 

Some of these messages contain threats of account deletion or suspension and demand users to click malicious links within the next few hours. The intention is to entice the users to click malicious links that may lead to the compromise of their accounts.

In addition to that, a phishing attack has been used to acquire personal information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. The attack weaponised malicious links embedded into the false alarm notification messages by those masquerading as trustworthy individuals or entities.  

These cyber threats and scam operations involve social engineering techniques by cybercriminals seeking to manipulate victims into providing their confidential data. 

This method involves using lures to obtain clicks, masquerading as known entities or contacts to entice the victim into providing confidential data like passwords, and clicking on a malicious link embedded within job advertisements, promotions, fake giveaways, or investment schemes.

In the last five years, SafetyComm recorded a total of 854 compromised social media accounts between 2021 and 2024. Most of the cyber threats and scams take place on the Facebook platform, which amounts to 57.3%, with WhatsApp (22.8%) and Instagram (18.9%), as documented by the SafetyComm.

The dangers that come after being comprised is that confidential data not meant for the public will get its way into the hands of unauthorised persons, leading to identity theft, data loss, and, in the worst-case scenario, unauthorised access to private materials like nudes. 

Common Cyber Scams 

Scammers send messages with claims that a user’s profile has met the requirements for a verified badge from Meta, and then users are asked to click shady links within 24 hours before it expires. Users received false alerts that they had violated Meta’s Community Standards by allegedly using fake photos or distributing misleading content and directing users to request a review through a malicious link.

Also, scammers threaten users that their accounts have violated copyright infringement and will be deleted if users fail to repeal the incident through a dubious link. 

So why are cyber scams still rampant in South Sudan?

Many social media users do not have the necessary basic cyber security knowledge and tools to detect and prevent deceptive messages or fraudulent activities.  This makes them vulnerable to clicking on malicious email links without a second thought as to whom the link is coming from, as well as reacting to providing confidential personal data when asked by impersonators. 

There are no strong mechanisms now to enforce cyber laws due to a lack of legal basis and expertise by law enforcement agencies in prosecuting various cyber fraud schemes. The Cybercrime and Computer Misuse Bill is still in parliament for deliberations. This shortcoming has empowered cybercriminals to perpetrate deadly operations against online users in the country. 

The Role of Misinformation and Disinformation

Misinformation and disinformation have been weaponised as tools to build trust and to create convincing narratives in phishing email messages or inbox alerts that influence users to accept or take action, whether by revealing their sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal details or by doing what the message has urged them to do.

In this context, by spreading false or misleading information, attackers and scammers exploit online users’ emotions in terms of fear and curiosity to lure them in by clicking on malicious links or providing confidential data.

Conclusion:

The digital landscape in South Sudan has significantly remained vulnerable to cyber threats and scams. This is due to a lack of strengthened information technology infrastructure and a lack of digital literacy skills among online users, which leaves them vulnerable to social engineering tactics employed by cybercriminals.

The absence of enforceable cyber laws has created an environment where perpetrators operate with relative impunity, exploiting loopholes and targeting unsuspecting users on platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp.

To overcome these threats, there is a need to improve cybersecurity infrastructure and enhance digital literacy to empower the public on how to detect and avoid cyber scams. Besides, the national parliament should fast-track the enactment of the Cybercrime and Computer Misuse law to set the stage for enforcement to protect online users.

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter.

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Explainer: How Starlink differs from other Internet service providers

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Starlink is a satellite internet service offered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX around the world, including South Sudan.

Writer: Makur Majeng

Starlink is a satellite internet service that provides high-speed internet to remote and underserved areas, including everywhere on Earth. Starlink was launched on May 23, 2019, by SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket. In comparison with traditional telecommunications companies and Internet service providers that offer Internet services, Starlink’s technology operates based on Low Earth Orbit at speeds of 7.7 km/s above the Earth’s surface and conveys Internet coverage directly from space. 

Source: Rafael Henrique / LightRocket via Getty Images

The differences between Starlink satellite and traditional Internet service providers (companies).

In contrast to traditional fibre optics, copper cables, cellular networks, or other physical infrastructures, the Starlink network consists of LEO satellites put in orbit. Later, these satellites will be used to establish connections with ground stations and user terminals known as small satellite dishes. 

As a result, it allows the company to provide internet services where it is impossible or economically impractical to lay a physical network infrastructure.

Meanwhile, telecom companies typically use fibre-optic cables, Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL), and cellular towers to provide internet services. 

On the other hand, Starlink provides global coverage and provides services for citizens in remote and rural areas, but telecom internet companies operate with limited coverage and serve the citizens of the city and suburban areas or wherever there is network infrastructure.

SpaceX’s Starlink Internet Service consists of a ground terminal (right) and antenna for high-speed satellite internet. (Image credit: SpaceX)

What are the pros and cons of Starlink?

Pros

Starlink enables internet penetration in locations where regular internet services are unavailable. It demands no need for enormous ground-based infrastructure and minimises time to deploy. 

The satellite infrastructure could ultimately result in lower operating costs compared to traditional physical infrastructures once the entire network is implemented.

Cons

Starlink for starters is expensive, and users must buy a satellite dish and router for setup, and weather-dependent typical performance can suffer from things like snow or rain, and it is also expensive for poor households to acquire Starlink for home use.

The number of countries using Starlink as of August 2024 includes 21 countries from continental America, which are the United States, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Canada, Chile, Easter Island, Mexico, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Barbados, Peru, Colombia, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, Bahamas, Honduras, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and Costa Rica.

In Europe, there are 30 countries, including overseas territories, which include; the United Kingdom, Pitcairn Islands, Germany, France, Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Italy, Czechia, Sweden, Croatia, Lithuania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Greece, Latvia, Hungary, North Macedonia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Estonia, Norway, Malta, Finland, Iceland, Cyprus, Georgia, and Albania.

In Oceania, there are 6 countries, which include New Zealand, Australia, Micronesia, Fiji, and Tonga. 

On the African continent, there are 13 countries, which include Nigeria, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Benin, Eswatini, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, South Sudan, Botswana, and Ghana. In Asia, there are 6 countries: Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, and Indonesia.

The Starlink availability map is here.

The global availability of the Starlink maps with the light blue location, source: Starlink

What are the future markets of traditional Internet service providers?

In rural or remote areas of competition, traditional Internet service providers (ISPs) like Liquid, Connect, IPTech, and others, for example, may not be as competitive as Starlink due to high infrastructure costs, and at the same time, the demand for their services may decrease with the growing Starlink penetration due to more users’ acquisitions of Starlink.

For ISPs to compete in reliability, speed, and reachability, they will need to invest heavily in expanding the coverage of fibre optic cable infrastructure in both remote and urban areas, which is financially very costly. 

However, Starlink is less costly in terms of infrastructure and can reach areas without cellular tower networks using its terminals and dishes.

In another related development, on January 8th, 2024, SpaceX successfully tested text messaging using its direct-to-cell satellites. The move further aims to overcome the challenge of connecting cell phones and other cellular devices to fast-moving satellites. 

Six satellites were launched, which function as cellphone towers in space and will provide text service in 2024 and voice, data services, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in 2025. 

This addition, according to Elon Musk, will allow mobile phone connectivity anywhere on Earth. However, he noted that it is not competitive with the existing terrestrial cellular networks. 

SpaceX has partnered with T-Mobile and other global operators to utilise the Long Term Evolution (LTE) spectrum, a fourth-generation network wireless standard offering seamless connectivity without the need for new devices or apps.

Conclusion:

Starlink technology is on the verge of becoming a major advancement in terms of the Internet service markets, especially for rural and underprivileged locations. On one hand, it is capable of providing worldwide coverage and scalability. 

However, its downsides include weather-dependent reliability and a relatively high cost for starters.

To remain competitive in the evolving telecom landscape, traditional carriers will need to adapt and invest—potentially striking internet infrastructures that cover hard-to-reach areas with reliable affordability for underprivileged locations. 

However, the entry of Starlink into the Internet markets has put pressure on traditional Internet service providers on how to retain and maintain market shares. 

In South Sudan, the National Communication Authority (NCA) approved Elon Musk’s Starlink Satellite Internet entry on June 26, 2024, and South Sudanese citizens have embraced the internet service compared with the fibre optic one.

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

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Explainer: MonkeyPox, what do you need to know?

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A cumulative total of 99,176 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox, including 208 deaths, were reported to WHO from 116 countries in all six WHO regions in Africa from January 1st, 2022, to June 30th, 2024. However, South Sudan has no confirmed case of Mpox, according to the Ministry of Health.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

A media report on August 7th, 2024 by Radio Tamazuj indicated that there were two suspected cases of monkeypox in Aweil town, Northern Bahr-el Ghazal State.

The State Ministry of Health has reported the case, and some samples were taken to the World Health Organisation in Juba, according to Dr. Riing Riing Lual Dau, the Northern Bahr-el Ghazal State Minister of Health.  

“We called the lab technicians to take the sample that was booked by WHO to Juba to be confirmed in the main lab. If it is monkeypox, we will inform our community to put in place preventative measures,” said Dr. Riing.

The Getty image indicates monkeypox patience. 

211 Check research:

With the recent suspected case of monkeypox, 211check has conducted in-depth research to educate the public.

What is monkeypox?

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a disease caused by infection with a virus known as the monkeypox virus. This virus is part of the same family virus that causes smallpox.

Mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be spread between animals and people. It is endemic, or found regularly, in parts of Central and West Africa. The virus that causes monkeypox has been found in small rodents, monkeys, and other mammals that live in these areas.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus that causes mpox (monkeypox), a disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, although less severe. 

While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, mpox continues to occur in countries in central and western Africa. 

How does the monkeypox virus transmit?

According to the WHO, Mpox spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected with the monkeypox virus. Close contact includes being face-to-face (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate droplets or short-range aerosols); skin-to-skin (such as touching or vaginal/anal sex); mouth-to-mouth (such as kissing); or mouth-to-skin contact (such as oral sex or kissing the skin). 

The CDC indicates that both clades of mpox spread through direct contact with infected wild animals, through close contact, including intimate or sexual contact with a person with mpox, and through contact with contaminated materials.

Similar analyses can also be found here, here, here, and here.

What are the signs and symptoms of monkeypox?

People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth, or near the genitals, including the penis, testicles, labia, vagina, and anus, according to the CDC.

The first symptom of monkeypox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first. The rash begins as a flat sore, which develops into a blister filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over, and fall off. Some people may have one or a few skin lesions, and others may have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body, such as the palms of hands and soles of feet, face, mouth, throat, groin and genital areas, and anus.

Some people also have painful swelling of their rectum or pain and difficulty when peeing.

More information can also be found here.

Besides, the WHO factsheet indicates the signs and symptoms of a person infected with monkeypox usually begin within a week but can start 1 to 21 days after exposure. However, the symptoms typically last 2 to 4 weeks and sometimes longer in someone with a weakened immune system.

How can monkeypox be detected and treated?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, to diagnose mpox, the healthcare provider takes a tissue sample from an open sore (lesion). Then, send it to a lab for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing genetic fingerprinting. 

In addition to that, the person affected also needs to give a blood sample to check for the monkeypox virus or antibodies the immune system makes.

Currently, there are not any approved antiviral treatments for monkeypox. However, antiviral drugs like cidofovir or tecovirimat may be prescribed to the sick person by a healthcare provider. 

How can monkeypox be prevented?

The CDC recommends the JYNNEOS vaccine for the prevention of mpox. Getting both doses provides the best protection. A person should get two doses four weeks apart. Even if it has been longer than 4 weeks since the first vaccine dose, one needs to get the second dose as soon as possible. However, if a Mpox patient previously recovered from mpox, he or she does not need the vaccine.

What are the authorities in South Sudan doing about the recent suspected monkeypox cases?

The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Health has registered two suspected samples that were taken to Uganda for further investigation.  

However, according to the report by Radio Tamazuj, Dr. Riing Yak Chan, the Director of Preventive Health Services, said none of the cases has substantively been confirmed as monkeypox but promised to continue monitoring the situation.

In addition to that, the National Ministry of Health, in a press statement on August 19th, 2024 assured the public that South Sudan has no confirmed case of monkeypox.

“The Ministry of Health reassures that there is no confirmed case of Mpox in South Sudan and urges the general public to remain calm but vigilant and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility or to call the Toll-Free Line 6666,” reads a press statement released by the Ministry of Health.

On the other hand, the Health Ministry encouraged the public to adhere to the following public health preventive measures:

  • Avoid close contact with an infected person.
  • Use personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients.
  • Do not share bedding, clothing, towels, or utensils with sick people.
  • Practice hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
  • Isolate infected patients in hospitals or at home.
  • Avoid close contact with wild animals, especially those found sick or dead.
  • Cook all foods containing fresh animal meat or products properly before eating.

What is the World Health Organisation saying?

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on August 14, 2024. The WHO  noted that the declaration makes it easier to speed up the acquisition and implementation of funding, global public health measures, and joint efforts to contain the disease. The WHO advisory on Mpox is found here also.

 Conclusion

With the declaration of monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO, South Sudan has no confirmed cases of the disease. 

However, the Health Ministry noted that “in the African region, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded the highest number of Mpox cases for the time, with sustained transmission driven by sexual contact. Other countries neighbouring the DRC that have reported Mpox include Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Some of these countries closely bordering South Sudan with porous borders and high population movements posed an increased risk of spillover of the monkeypox virus into the country.”

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.

Bank of South Sudan has not introduced a new currency note in 2024

Fact-check: Bank of South Sudan has not introduced a new currency note in 2024

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The picture circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp is an edited Namibian dollar banknote.

Writer: Jibi Moses

The specimen of a banknote shared on Facebook and several WhatsApp groups claiming to be a new South Sudanese Pound two hundred (SSP 200) is false. 

The note, mainly covered in purple,  was shared on a purported Bank of South Sudan headed paper. Although there was no description or any other explanation, The note’s main features are Dr.John Garang’s picture, Antelopes, the strips, the governor’s signature, and the serial number, among other features. 

“New Currency. Bank of South Sudan has released a 200 SSP note,” Duany News Network shared on Facebook. Some Facebook posts include one, two, three, and four.

Screenshot of the Edited Banknote, purported to be a new South Sudanese SSP 200 note

Claim Verification: 

A keyword internet search for “Did the Bank of South Sudan release a 200 banknote?” did not return any positive results. This search showed that the latest currency to be released in South Sudan is the South Sudanese Pounds one thousand note (SSP 1000) on Tuesday, February 9, 2021.

211 Check did a reverse image search, and the results showed that this is a Namibian dollar 200 note. Both Yandex and Baidu have pictures of the same 200 Namibian dollar banknote.

Banknote World Educational in 2015 published the note with the caption, “Namibia 200 Namibia Dollars Banknote, 2015, P-15b.” In this publication, they also gave the exchange rate to the US dollar, which stood at $60 then. 

Apart from the picture of Captain Hendrik Witbooi’s face, which was portrayed on the obverse of all Namibian dollar banknotes until March 20, 2012, it is still on all N$50, N$100, and N$200 notes and the Bank of Namibia. The rest of the features are the same as the ones in the picture, which claims to be for the South Sudan 200 New Bank Note. 

A screenshot of the N$ 200 banknote as published on the Banknote World website

Namibian Dollar Bank Notes

According to the Bank of Namibia, there are six denominations (values) of Bank of Namibia notes in circulation: N$10, N$20, N$30, N$50, N$100, and N$200.

The Bank of Namibia officially introduced and issued the first Namibian dollar designs for the 10, 50, and 100 Namibian dollar banknote denominations on September 15, 1993. The 20 and 200 Namibian dollar banknote denominations were introduced in 1996. Although the 20 and 200 Namibia dollar banknotes maintained the same design as the first 10, 50, and 100 Namibia dollar banknotes, they did contain some additional trademarked security features. The 10, 50, and 100 Namibian dollar banknotes were subsequently upgraded to include these features.

South Sudanese Pounds BankNotes

The South Sudanese pound is the currency of the Republic of South Sudan. It is subdivided into 100 piasters. The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly approved it before secession on July 9, 2011 from Sudan. It was introduced on July 18, 2011, and replaced the Sudanese pound.

Coins and Banknotes: 25 pounds, 25 piasters, 5 piasters, 1 pound, 10 piasters

Banknotes: SSP 1, SSP 5, SSP 10, SSP 20, SSP 25, SSP 50, SSP 100, SSP 500, and SSP 1,000. The latest to be introduced is the SSP 1,000 note on February 9, 2021.

Screenshot of the new banknote published on the Bank of South Sudan website on February 9, 2021

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that the image circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp that the Bank of South Sudan has introduced a new currency, the SSP 200 note, is false; the picture is an edited Namibian dollar N$ 200 banknote. 

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: These aren’t images of Ugandan soldiers in Juba in 2024 

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These pictures were taken in 2016 when the Ugandan army came to Juba, South Sudan, to collect their citizens after the July conflict broke out in Juba.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

On March 17, 2024, a Facebook user posted two pictures of military trucks fully loaded with well-armed soldiers claiming to be of Ugandan armed forces in Juba in 2024, but this is false. 

One of the trucks is marked Uganda Police. The trucks were on a highway, and ahead of it was a bridge. 

The pictures captioned, “Uganda forces arrived in Capital Juba South Sudan.” have been shared 22 times and gained 16 comments and 16 reactions during this claim investigation. 

“Something big is about to happen in Juba; be prepared my people, another dogfight is loading right now in the capital city Juba,” one person commented.

The screenshot of the post was made with the pictures on March 17, 2024 

Claim Verification:

211 Check ran a Google reverse image search on the pictures, and the results showed that these pictures have been on the internet since 2016.

The New Vision, the leading publication of Vision Group Media in Uganda, published one of the pictures on July 14, 2016, with the caption, “UPDF enters South Sudan to Evacuate Citizens” 

A screenshot of one of the pictures used by New Vision in 2016.

Al Jazeera published a story on July 14, 2016, in which they attached a video from where one of the pictures was taken.

The screenshot of the article, as published by Al Jazeera, with one of the pictures.

Apart from the above publications, other news outlets published stories about these pictures, as seen here, here, here, and here.

Conclusion:

211 Chcek has found a claim with pictures shared by a user on Facebook, claiming to be of Ugandan armies in Juba in 2024, is false. These pictures of Ugandan soldiers were taken on July 17, 2016. These soldiers came to help evacuate Ugandans and other citizens who were caught up in Juba in the July 2016 conflict.

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: No evidence these pictures show South Sudanese immigrants

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These pictures, allegedly of South Sudanese immigrants, have been online since January 2, 2024, but no publicly available information tells the nationalities of the people in them.

Writer: Jibi Moses

Some images making the rounds on social media claiming to be of South Sudanese immigrants arriving in Italy through Libya are unproven.

The pictures, which accompanied an article by Jonglei TV on March 4, 2024, claimed the pictures were of South Sudanese who had just arrived in Italy after escaping the harsh conditions back home.  

“Desperate Journey. A group of over 50 young South Sudanese have successfully crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy yesterday,” the post partly reads.

A screenshot of the post by Jonglei TV.

Claim Verification:

211 Check verified the images individually to establish whether the pictures depict South Sudanese fleeing the economic conditions back home.

Picture One:

A reverse image search result for the first image showed several instances where the image was used. Several online news outlets used the image in their stories with different headlines, some dating back to January 4, 2024.

InfoMigrants, which describes itself as…  Migrant News is a news website designed to combat misinformation that migrants may fall victim to, whether in their country of origin, on their journey, or in the country where they hope to build a new life. To target the largest possible audience, Migrant News is available in six languages: French, Arabic, English, Dari, Pashto, and Bengali. Published a story on January 4 with the headline, “Nearly 250 migrants arrive on the Canary Islands in one day.”

A screenshot of the picture used by the InfoMigrants newspaper.

Other news agencies that reported on the story are seen here, here, here, and here.

Picture Two and Three:

A reverse image search also shows several articles published with the picture, among other similar ones with different headlines. These ranged from mainstream online publications to social media handles like X (formerly Twitter).  

An X (formerly Twitter) user retweeted a tweet first shared by MSF Sea.

MSF Sea tweeted, “37 people on an overcrowded fibreglass boat were rescued this morning by the #MSF team while on its way to #Bari. They reported being at sea for at least four days. They were really weak & are now receiving medical care on board.”

The screenshot of the pictures used by MSF Sea

Desperate Journeys and Immigrants:

In 2018, the UNHCR, the United Nations agency responsible for refugees, produced a Desperate Journeys report. In this report, they explained the trends of these journeys. In 2018, they observed that the number of immigrants dropped, but this could have been due to reduced rescue missions and changes in the routes in the sea used by the immigrants to avoid being intercepted and brought. This, in the long run, makes many cases go unreported.

“The number of refugees and migrants making the Mediterranean Sea crossing fell in 2018. Still, likely, reductions to search and rescue capacity coupled with an uncoordinated and unpredictable response to disembarkation led to an increased death rate as people continued to flee their countries due to conflict, human rights violations, persecution, and poverty,” UNHCR.

Since then, many immigrants from African countries have been making attempts to illegally enter Europe in a bid to escape the harsh political and economic conditions in their home countries. Unfortunately, many of them don’t make it, as these journeys are not only dangerously long, where some die of hunger, thirst, and dangerous waves in the sea, but also illegal.

The media has a lot of content about these journeys, both positive and negative, and these are some of them: here, here, here, here, here, and here.

The search for better economic prospects drives many African migrations; they believe in better opportunities and living conditions in Europe. 

Conclusion:

211 Check found insufficient information to show that the pictures making the rounds are of South Sudanese immigrants. Besides, the same pictures have been online since January 2, 2024. 

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter.

Are these pictures of South Sudanese burned in Libya

Fact-check: Are these pictures of South Sudanese burned in Libya?

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There is no evidence that these are South Sudanese; besides, the pictures have been online since January 25, 2024.

Writer: Jibi Moses

Pictures making the rounds on Facebook, allegedly of fifteen (15) South Sudanese burnt in Libya, are unproven.

The pictures, first shared by Gogrial Global TV on March 7, 2024, went viral and were shared by other pages, individual profiles, and WhatsApp groups. Some other shared and posted pages are 1, 2, and 3.

The pictures that were shared with a lengthy write-up allegedly describe how 16 South Sudanese fleeing the war in Sudan, who were planning to cross to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea, were burned by a Libyan bus driver with the help of a co-driver. According to the page, 15 people died, and one is struggling for his life. They claim the incident happened on March 5.

“At least 15 South Sudanese young men have been reportedly burnt to death, and one barely survived in Libya. The unlucky 16 South Sudanese hired a bus to drop them off from the town to make their way to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea. The article is partially read. 

Screenshots  of the message and the pictures  

Claim Verification:

Given that no news is reported in the mainstream media, either local or international, 211 Check decided to do a reverse image search on the pictures, and the results brought up several instances where the pictures were used before. 

Pour Tout Juriste Qui Croit En La Justice, a Facebook page based in Farcha, Chad, published in French. On January 26, 2024, shared the pictures with words in French that translate, as seen below,

Cet homme a été asperger d’essence et brûlé vif par des libyens racistes sous prétexte de changer sa peau noire par la brûlure. L’ Afrique du Nord est en déroute par des mentalités racistes  révolues

Google Translate:

This man was sprayed with gasoline and burned to death by racist Libyans under the pretext of changing his black skin by burning. North Africa is messed up with racist mindsets.

A screenshot of the Pour Tout Juriste Qui Croit En La Justice post.

Meanwhile In Africa, a Facebook page whose admin lives in Grand Gedeh County, Liberia, posted an article with the same pictures on January 28, 2024.

“This is the fate reserved for migrants who fail to pay the demanded ransom in the detention centre in Libya. Each migrant has a price, depending on nationality and gender. The most expensive migrants are those coming from East Africa,” reads the post partly.

Screenshots from the Meanwhile in Africa Facebook page.

Other pages that used the pictures can be seen here, here, and here.  

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that although these pictures that have been on the internet as far back as January 25, 2024, seem to have originated in Libya, the exact date they were taken has yet to be established. Therefore, the claim that the pictures are of South Sudanese who were allegedly burned in Libya on March 5, 2024, is unproven. 

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Was this video taken in Apaa, Northern Uganda?

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No, this video originated in Nigeria and has been online since late December 2023. As much as there are conflicts in the Apaa area due to land disputes and reported killings, this particular video wasn’t recorded there. 

Writer: Jibi Moses

A video making the rounds on a WhatsApp group claiming to be from Appa, northern Uganda, is misleading.

The video, which was shared on February 26, 2024, in a WhatsApp group, claims that the incident happened in Apaa on that specific day in the afternoon.

The message caption partly reads, “THE QUESTION OF APAA LAND DISPUTE IN AMURU DISTRICT BETWEEN MADI AND ACHOLI COMMUNITIES INTENSIFIES THIS AFTERNOON.”

A screenshot from the part of the video.

The video caused suspicion since the language used did not sound like Madi or Acholi, the native languages of the two communities in dispute. Despite that, no mainstream media has reported or written about the video.

This made 211 Check take a deeper dive to investigate it.

Claim Verification:

A Google search by 211 Check after cropping some parts of the video shows results of an unrelated incident that happened earlier and in a different location.

The first Google search result brought up this video posted by ALIVEGORE with the caption, “Child Warning! Islamist Militants Killed 198 Christians In 15 Villages. Nigeria.”

Screenshot of an image from the Counting Stars article.

Similarly, CountingStars is an online newspaper that describes itself as a personal blog created in 2004 and published in Spain. On December 26, 2023, a story with the headline The images of the brutal Islamist massacres against Christians in Nigeria on Christmas Eve. 

The article deeply explains an alleged act of rudeness that happened in Nigeria on Christmas Eve of 2023. They screenshotted multiple scenes in the video and posted them with the article as pictures.

An article published by the Counting Stars on December 26, 2023.

The Madi-Acholi Apaa conflict

The Apaa land wrangles between the Madi of Adjumani district and Acholi of Amuru, both northern districts of Uganda, started to appear as early as 2006. The Apaa land became contentious when the government in 2017 demarcated boundaries between Amuru and Adjumani districts. Apaa village was placed under Adjumani, to the dismay of the Acholi people from Amuru, with whom they have inhabited the land for decades. Since then, the attacks have been recurring, as the Madi community wants the Acholi people pushed out of the land.

The Apaa issue has been in the news ever since, as seen in some of these articles here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, among others.

A keyword search: “Has there been a massacre in Apaa Northern in February?” on Google brought several media results, with the latest being an article by Plus News, in which they reported that an Alebtong police officer wanted to kill a person in Apaa. This incident happened on February 22. There are other incidences of killing, as reported here, here, and here.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that a video making the rounds on WhatsApp didn’t originate from Apaa, northern Uganda, but from Nigeria. Evidence shows that the video has been online since late December 2023. Much as there are land conflicts in the Apaa region between the Acholi and Madi and some reported cases of killings, this particular one isn’t from there. 

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Military job offers in the USA for South Sudanese civilians are a Facebook hoax

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The sponsored Facebook post redirects to an unrelated website that doesn’t belong to the United States of America government (.gov). 

Writer: Makur Majeng

A recent sponsored post making the rounds on Facebook claiming to offer military jobs in the USA specifically targeted at individuals from South Sudan is a hoax.

“Are you from South Sudan? Military Jobs in the USA for Civilians! Good Salary! Sponsorship is possible! Great Conditions for Foreigners! Find Offers!” reads part of the sponsored Facebook post on February 2, 2024. 

The post promises good salaries, sponsorship opportunities, and great conditions for foreigners. 

Upon clicking the sponsored Facebook post link, users are redirected to an unrelated website that shows relevant searches.

The screenshot of the sponsored post on Facebook

Claim Verification:

211 Check conducted a Keyword Search with the phrase “Are you from South Sudan? Military Jobs in the USA for Civilians” and found no evidence of an employment program or subsidy supporting such a claim. 

The Facebook page “Good Job”, which runs sponsored posts about the jobs, has a profile description “delicious bananas”, yet it categorises itself as “Jobs and Occupations”, created on July 6, 2023, with the name “Delicious bananas” before it was changed to “Good Job” on November 27, 2023, according to Facebook transparency section.

A thorough examination of the U.S. Department of Defense website yielded no information regarding a program offering military jobs in the USA for civilians from South Sudan.

The official sources for information on available military roles in the US government are the Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employment and USAJOBS.

Furthermore, a WHOIS domain search revealed that the associated website was registered on January 4, 2024, and is set to expire on January 4, 2025. This information raises questions about the credibility and legitimacy of the website and the claims it promotes.

A screenshot of the Whois domain search of the website

ArcSight Threat Intelligence flagged the web link as suspicious with low harm in a Virustotal analysis, but no security vendor flagged it as malicious.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the recent sponsored post on Facebook claiming that military jobs in the USA for South Sudanese civilians, along with the post’s promise of a good salary, sponsorship, and great conditions, are a hoax. 

The sponsored Facebook post redirects to an unrelated website that doesn’t belong to the United States of America government (.gov).

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This sponsored Facebook post offering free study in Germany is a hoax

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A recent sponsored Facebook post claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German and potential transportation and accommodation is not announced by a legitimate source. 

Writer: Makur Majeng

A sponsored post on Facebook claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German and potential transportation and accommodation is a hoax.

“Unlock the pathway to your educational goals with our expert assistance. Let’s make it happen!” reads part of the sponsored Facebook post.

The sponsored post targets an audience specifically in South Sudan aged 18-45, enticing them to pursue their educational goals with the promise of expert assistance. 

Upon clicking the sponsored Facebook post link, users are redirected to a website that shows relevant searches.

The screenshot of the sponsored post on Facebook

Claim Verification:

211 Check conducted a Keyword Search for ‘Are you 18-45 from South Sudan? You can study in Germany without a Visa and learn German’ and found no evidence to support the claim of free study in Germany without needing to learn German.

A WHOIS domain search shows that the website associated with the ad was recently registered on 24 January 2024 and is set to expire on 24 January 2025. This short time frame for the website’s existence indicates a potential scam, casting doubt on its legitimacy.

The screenshot of the Whois domain search of the website

The Google Chrome browser flagged the website in the sponsored post as unsecured, which cast further doubt on the resources behind the offer and the ad’s intention.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the official website for the Germany Scholarship offers opportunities for international students to study in Germany. The scholarship provides financial support to high-achieving students, but it does not offer completely free study.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds a recent sponsored post on Facebook claiming to offer free study in Germany with no need to learn German, along with potential transportation and accommodation, a hoax

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 +211 921 350 435. #FactsMatter