EXPLAINER: Facts about the National Parliament

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Author: Emmanuel Bida 

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit weeks ago reconstituted the Transitional National Transitional Legislative Assembly, as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement. 

The reconstituted national assembly now consists of 550 lawmakers, drawn from all political parties that signed the peace accord in the Ethiopian Capital Addis-Ababa on September 12, 2018. There was an addition of 150 MPs to the previous list. 

President Kiir’s appointment came a day after he dissolved the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States.

According to the deal, both R-TNLA and Council of States shall be reconstituted to include new appointees from all peace parties.

The agreement recommends for the expansion of the TNLA from 400 to 550 members, consisting of representatives from the peace signatories. 

It required the incumbent Transitional government to nominate 332 MPs, 128 from SPLM-IO, 50 from South Sudan Opposition Alliance, 30 from Other political parties and 10 from the Former Detainees – a provision that is fully implemented by all parties. 

The genesis of the National Legislative Assembly

Under South Sudan’s 2011 transitional constitution as amended, the legislative power was bicameral, comprising the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the Council of States.

After the South’s independence from Sudan on July 9, 2011, the assembly which was established in August that very year, comprised a 332-member National Legislative Assembly and a 50-member Council of States. 

The NLA body consisted of members of the previous regional legislative body, the South Sudan Legislative Assembly, and South Sudanese who had seats in Sudan’s National Assembly. 

The majority of NLA members were directly elected; the rest were elected from closed lists to ensure proportional representation for women and various other groups, according to data obtained online. 

Upon independence, the Council of States consisted of all South Sudanese who had been elected by state legislatures to seats in Sudan’s Council of States, as well as 20 members appointed by South Sudan’s president. 

The 170 lawmakers of the National Legislative Assembly and the 50 member Council of States members were to serve four-year terms.

However, after the signing of the 2015 peace agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), a 400-member Transitional National Legislative Assembly was established on August 4 2016, which replaced the National Legislative Assembly. 

The term of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly was to run concurrently with the Transitional Government of National Unity (T-GoNU) until elections were held.

During the transitional period, the 50-member Council of States, established in 2011, continued to function as the upper chamber of parliament.

Current framework

Following the civil war that broke out in December 2013, a peace agreement signed in August 2015 provided for the creation of a transitional power-sharing government that would include members of Kiir’s administration as well as members from the rebel groups.

The TNL was implemented in April 2016 and was intended to function for 30 months, with, among its tasks, the goal of organizing elections 60 days prior to the end of the transitional period.

According to the deal, the incumbent president remained in place and appointed a first vice president Dr. Riek Machar, who led SPLM-IO during the negotiations. 

After the creation of the transitional government, the administration had 90 days to transform the NLA into the TNLA, which included former MPs, plus an additional 68 members.

Of the new 68 members, the matrix shows 50 were from the South Sudan Armed Opposition, 1 former detainee, and 17 from Other Political Parties.

The other legislative body, the Council of States, remained unchanged in the new transitional government.

R-TNLA’s mandate

The national legislature serves as an independent arm of the government and below in brief are some of the roles plays or should play: –

  1. Overseeing the performance of the National Government institutions.
  2. Approving plans, programs, and policies of the National Government. 

Approving budgets;

3. Ratifying international treaties, conventions, and agreements.

4. Adopting resolutions on matters of public concern.

5. Summoning Ministers to answer questions of members of the Assembly on matters related to their ministries.

6. Interrogating Ministers about their performance or the performance of their ministries. 

7. Approving appointments as required by the Transitional Constitution or the law.

8. Casting a vote of no confidence against the Vice President and any Minister.

9. Enacting legislation to regulate the conditions and terms of service of the Judiciary and its oversight mechanisms. 

10. And performing any other function as determined by the Transitional Constitution or the law.

Eligibility

In accordance to the constitution, candidate for membership of the National Legislature must:

·         be a South Sudanese. 

·         be at least twenty-one years of age.

·         be of sound mind.

·         be literate. 

·     A person who has not been convicted during the last seven years of an offense involving honesty or moral turpitude.

NOTE: Members of the National Legislature and the Council of Ministers are eligible for membership of state legislatures or state councils of ministers. 

However, a member of the National Legislative Assembly cannot also be a member of the Council of States (and vice versa). 

Previous NLA/TNLA Leadership 

NameTook officeLeft office
James Wani Igga2011August 2013
Manasseh Magok RundialAugust 20134 August 2016
Anthony Lino Makana4 August 20168 December 2019
Obuch Ojok16 December 2019Incumbent

What does the revitalized agreement say?

The Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly and the Council of States shall consist of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) and the Council of States.

The R-TNL shall be expanded to five hundred and fifty (550) members and reconstituted as follows: – 

Incumbent TGoNU – 332 members

SPLM/A-IO – 128 members

SSOA: fifty – 50 members.

OPP: thirty – 30 members.

FDs:  – 10 members.

The 2018 accord says the Speaker of the TNLA shall be nominated by the Incumbent TGoNU, one Deputy Speaker shall be nominated by SPLM/A-IO. Another one, who should be a woman, shall be nominated by the Incumbent TGoNU; and a third Deputy Speaker to be nominated by OPP.

The agreement says upon issuing the final report of the Independent Boundaries Commission (IBC) in accordance with Article 1.14, the Council of State shall be reconstituted as shall be recommended by the IBC. 

However, if the IBC fails to issue its final report, the Council of State shall be reconstituted pursuant to the outcome of the referendum.

The deal added that without prejudice to the recommendations of the IBC, the Speaker of the Council of States shall be nominated by SPLM/A-IO, Deputy Speaker shall be nominated by Incumbent TGoNU, and shall be a woman, and Deputy Speaker shall be nominated by SSOA. 

It stressed that for the purpose of regional inclusivity required in a body representing the States, each of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers shall come from former regions.

R-TNLA duration

The duration and term of the reconstituted TNL shall run concurrently with that of the RTGoNU, as per the terms of this Agreement, until such time as elections are held.

The functions and mandate of the TNLA shall remain as stipulated in the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011 as amended, unless otherwise specified by the terms of this Agreement.

The reconstituted TNLA shall, in the conduct of its business, support this Agreement and enact legislation that enables and assists the transitional processes and reforms described in this Agreement.

Decisions in the reconstituted TNLA on matters pertaining to this Agreement shall be by consensus and failure to that, shall be by two thirds (2/3) majority of all the members. 

Decisions in the TNLA on other matters not related to this Agreement shall be by consensus and in lieu of that by simple majority. 

REFERENCES 

http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2390.htm

https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Sudan/Government-and-society#ref1213591
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Legislature_(South_Sudan)
https://docs.pca-cpa.org/2016/02/South-Sudan-Peace-Agreement-September-2018.pdf

End

Scam Alert: Toyota Is Not Celebrating its 80th Anniversary!

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Author: Emmanuel Bida

211 Check investigations have identified the trending message [link] about Toyota’s 80th Anniversary Celebration and the giveaway of a Toyota Corolla being sent to numerous internet users on various social media platforms as a scam.

The new online fraud popular on WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, is being received by many online users via cellphone.

Analyzed by 211 Check, the message urges the recipients to click the link and be part of Toyota’s 80 Anniversary Celebration and get a chance to win a luxurious Toyota car.

Our investigations have clearly identified the message as an online fraud. Find out below why it is!

Protection and Safety: Don’t click or proceed with the contest, because your account might be compromised or you might be lured into a fake scam dealing. Avoid this link: http://jtyjdg.ymmtwq.cn/fengtian/index.php#1621339177652

Why is this Toyota 80th Anniversary Celebration contest a scam?

SCAM AWARD MESSAGE

For some online users wondering what qualifies the above message to be a scam, below are tips of classifying facts about online fraud.

Fact #1: The link is highly suspicious.

If you closely look at the link, it goes to http://1s7wttd.nodxteh.cn which is not an original or official Toyota Company’s website link or domain.

The links moves from one website to another, which 211 Check observed were unrelated Chinese-registered (.cn) domains.

In addition, the above link is not Encrypted, which would start with https://. Note: legitimate websites will use SSL-Encrypted links (with HTTPS, not HTTP). When you see such links, DO NOT CLICK on them.

Fact #2: Toyota’s 80th Anniversary was in 2017

Toyota Company was established on August 28 1937. The company celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017.

Below is the Toyota Motor Corp tweet published August 28, 2017.

Fact #3: Toyota is in the business of selling cars

According to reliable facts online, Toyota Company is in the business of selling cars, but not giving them away for free as stipulated in the scam.

Facts states that the company has never offered a single car at free cost, when it celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017.

Fact #4: The page has so many troubling clues

If you click on the link, you will be led to this page, claiming you will get a free gift with Toyota… and a chance to win a Toyota Corolla – a page that is full of grammatical mistakes, something an actual Toyota website would not have, because prominent companies such as Toyota hire professionals staff.

When you click on the comments of people who claimed to have won the Toyota Corolla, the links don’t take you to any reliable web. Our analysis shows that the messages are all ‘FAKE’ placed there to lure you.

In addition, if you check the code of the comments, you can see that all comments and pictures were manually inserted on the web.

Fact #5: You will always win the car

You can try the contest any number of times, and you will ALWAYS win the car.

Why? Because the next step involves you sharing this with 5 groups or 20 friends on WhatsApp. So, no matter how many times you participate, you will ALWAYS win the free Toyota Corolla. Do you think that’s the case with a real contest? Off course NO!

Fact #6: Website information through Whois Search

The WHOIS information of the imposter website reveals it was registered on June 17, 2020, in China by Sichuan Domain Fun Network Technology Co., Ltd., while the legitimate Toyota Website (https://www.toyota.com/) was registered on December 29th, 1994 by Toyota Motor Sales, USA – a big research that qualifies the message and website was scams.

CLEAR WHOIS FINDINGS

Conclusion:

It is cleared that the Toyota 80th Anniversary is a SCAM, NOT LEGIT. If you receive such messages, kindly ignore them and alert others about such online fraud threats. Secondly, don’t share or proceed beyond this page.

HOMEPAGE OF FAKE WEB

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

To know more 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 immediate feedback.

Fact Checked: Is Sudanese politician Malik Agar in Uganda to represent South Sudan?

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Author: Emmanuel Bida

Uganda’s government institution has misfired Sudanese politician Malik Agar as a South Sudanese and a Vice President as well, according to online information found by 211 Check on Wednesday.


A tweet by Government of Uganda @GovUganda on Tuesday, 11th May 2021 claimed in a misleading post that Malik Agar is a Vice President in the Republic of South Sudan.

What is the truth?

Malik Agar is neither a South Sudanese nor a Vice President. Malik leads a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM – North). 

Reliable sources and facts say Malik Agar is a member of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council. He is in Uganda to witness the swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni on behalf of Sudan Sovereign Council.

Who are the Vice Presidents in South Sudan?

South Sudan has five Vice Presidents namely: First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Vice President for Economic Cluster – James Wani Igga, Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster – Taban Deng Gai, Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi and Vice President for Youth, Gender and Humanitarian Cluster Rebecca Nyandeng. 

Please disregard the information tweeted by @GovUganda, it is misleading and doesn’t reflect any of the described personality in relationship to his position and country of origin.

Did you know at least 82 people died in different plane crashes since South Sudan’s independence

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Author: Garang Abraham – Managing Editor

At least eighty-two people have died in different plane crashes since South Sudan succeeded from Sudan nine years ago, according to Aviation Safety Network.  

As per the data obtained by 211 Check, the biggest incident that claimed 41 lives happened near Juba International Airport, Central Equatoria State on November 4, 2015, when Allied Services Limited – lsf Asia Airways crashed while taking off.   

The second incident which claimed numerous lives occurred on September 9, 2018 in Lakes State, near Yirol airstrip, when South West Aviation, lsf Slav-Air crashed while landing – a heartbreaking occurrence that left 20 people dead including a bishop.   

Other crashes that killed several people include the recent South Supreme Airlines Pieri and last year’s South West Aviation incidences, where 10 and 7 people died respectively.  

The above data also shows that Central Equatoria State, Juba City registered the biggest number of incidences that claimed several lives.

Wau Airport scoped the second position of the airstrips that registered several incidences, though the number of passengers killed was less.

According to the data, there were few survivors from all the crashes. However, most of the occurrences were incident-related. There were no hijacking or criminal related incidences in all the cases.

Note: The analysis identified that the government or concerned authorities didn’t make investigations or findings of most the incidences public, apart from few.

IATA neglected call

On February 8, 2021, the International Air Transport Association in a letter encouraged South Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authorities to ensure that the desired level of safety and efficiency is implemented in the lower airspace.  

The association stressed that many interventions have not resulted in a clear improvement in safety performance.

In addition, the aviation body claimed that Juba is considered a challenging operational environment due to the following reported deficiencies:

  • Air Traffic Services.
  • Industrial action by civilian air traffic service personnel.
  • Deployment of military air traffic controllers to replace civilian personnel.
  • RNAV/GNSS approach procedures are deficient. Previous procedures were cancelled and are no longer valid.
  • Frequency congestion as a result of combined Ground, Tower and Approach control services on a single frequency.

IATA recommended that airlines operating within the South Sudan Airspace at a minimum should: –

1.Treat the operation as specialized, and continue to exercise robust risk management practices pertaining to the operation.

2.Ensure crews are well briefed of the above challenges.

3.Operators should continue reporting issues/concerns in the above airspace using safety reporting mechanisms and, where applicable, the IATA GADM IDX program.

But the call seems to have gone in vain or authorities might be implementing the appeal undercover.

Below are three graphs summarizing the above data…..

    END

    Jebel Kujur manipulated images fact checked

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    Author: Emmanuel Bida

    Online fact checking investigative findings regarding some recent pictures alleged to have been taken on top of Jebel Kujur in Juba have revealed those images as untrue. 

    Last week, some photos made rounds on social media, especially on Facebook, that are perceived to have been taken at Jebel Kujur in Juba.

    Two of the photos were shared widely by both some sensational FACEBOOK PAGES and individuals, depicting activities that they say “hikers do on the mountain top during their regular exercises”.

    Hiking on Jebel Kujur has become a hobby for a notable number of Juba residents.

    Below are a few examples of some images manipulated by some individuals.

    First manipulated image
    Second manipulated image

    But, are these photos from Jebel Kujur? No, they are manipulated images, according to 211 Check investigations.  

    The team of fact checkers Reverse Image Search images and online Photo-forensics software shows the photos to have been manipulated. They are probably photoshopped or edited using other sophisticated graphics applications. 

    The first photo “Daggering_21.jpg”, alleged to have been taken at Jebel Kujur, was shared by Chiara Meatteli, a London based journalist, photographer and video maker in 2018. It originated from “Jamaica”.

    In order to confirm it for yourself, here is the link to the Photo. 

    Original image

    The second photo that many online users believed to have been taken at Jebel Kujur, was shared on the Student Life website in an article titled: “Safe ‘sex’ at W.I.L.D.?” by Noah Charak, a sex columnist on October 8th, 2010. 

    In the article, the photo depicts “daggering”, a form of dance popularized in Jamaica. Here is the link to the Photo. 

    Original image

    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.

    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.

    Is this street found in Juba, South Sudan?

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    Author: Viola Lubang 

    Various online search engines have unveiled the true location of the street that many South Sudanese netizens mistook for Juba. 

    South Sudan being a developing country, a lot of photos always emerge ranging from those portraying insecurity, poor governance, poor infrastructure, among others as people indirectly mock the country.

    So many developing countries are affected by the fact that infrastructural development such as good roads are not put in place sooner than expected.

    The photo below was posted on Facebook with the caption: “My Capital City Juba” by one South Sudanese Facebook user. 

    In order to verify the image that went viral, 211 Check used reverse image search on different engines to find the true origin of image below.

    However, details found shows that image is/was not taken in South Sudan. 

    The street mistaken for Juba

    Multiple photos of the same road have been posted by numerous Social media users both on twitter and Facebook, who are not only South Sudanese. 

    Many online users have mocked the regime for entertaining corruption, instead of prioritizing urban and grassroot development. 

    In addition, there is also a big debate on the exact location where the picture was taken, but fact indicates that the image was taken at “Pumula suburb of Bulawayo Town – the second largest city of Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland region”. 

    The image was first shared online on 7th March, 2021, and below are some links stating, where the image was first used:

    #FactsMatter, let’s fight the spread of misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media.

    Don’t fall victim of fake news and avoid spreading misinformation.

    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.

    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. 

    Fact Checked: Did AU and MTN donate expired Covid-19 vaccines to S. Sudan?

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    Author: Emmanuel Bida

    Health officials have confirmed that the 59,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the African Union, Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and MTN were not expired as perceived by many South Sudanese.

    Earlier this week, a prominent South Sudanese activist claimed that MTN that the African Union donated expired AstraZeneca vaccines to South Sudan.

     “So MTN donated for us expired 59,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. We would’ve put such a huge number of people lives under risk. Big thanks to our medical experts for realizing and acting very fast. Kudos!” reads the Facebook post.

    Activist’s Facebook post

    Another tweet on 18th April by a prominent comedian, who has 5,920 followers on Twitter in a fun-related manner also did state that the AstraZeneca vaccines donated by MTN to South Sudan were expired.

    “So, @MTNSSD donated expired vaccines to South Sudan? Did they think they were donating data bundles?” reads the tweet.

    Comedian’s Tweet

    Are contents shared above true? NO!

    It is identified by 211 Check that the over 59,000 AstraZeneca Vaccines donated by the African Union, Africa CDC, and MTN arrived on Monday, 29th March 2021 to South Sudan, and were received by Ministry of Health’s Undersecretary Mayen Machut and MTN South Sudan Chief Executive Officer Gordian Kyomukama at Juba International Airport.

    When contacted by 211 Check, a National Health Ministry official said the vaccines were supposed to be administered to over 29,000 healthcare workers across South Sudan.

    So what happened?

    On Tuesday April 13, 2021, an official from the Ministry of Health told Reuters News Agency that the vaccines expired and will not be used.

    As can be seen in the below picture, the vaccines were manufactured on 16th October, 2020 and expired on 13th April, 2021.

    Dr. Atem Riak Anyoun is the Director General for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health.

    As part of his job description, he oversees vaccine deployment across the country.

    Dr. Atem confirmed to 211 Check on Friday that the 59,283 doses of the vaccines donated by the African Union and MTN on Monday, 29th March 2021 expired on 13th April 2021 and will not be used.

    “The vaccines from MTN have expired on the 13th of April. We are not using any expired vaccines at all. When a vaccine expires, it will not be used and that is it” said Atem.

    Note: This means that the AstraZeneca vaccines donated to South Sudan by the African Union, Africa CDC and MTN expired in the country two weeks after arrival.

    Meanwhile, COVID-19 Incident Manager Dr. Richard Laku told journalists at the weekly media briefing on Sunday that they could not use the vaccines because the Drug and Food Control Authority doesn’t allow the use of medicines with such a short shelf lifespan.

    SEE OUR FIRST FACT CHECK ON THE VACCINE EXPIRATION

    Which vaccines are being used in South Sudan now?

    The health authorities say they are currently using the 132,000 doses of the first batch of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines obtained directly from the COVAX facility last month. These vaccines are also expected to expire in July.

    What is the safe lifespan of the AstraZeneca vaccines?

    According to AstraZeneca, the vaccine can be stored, transported, and handled at normal refrigerated conditions (two-eight degrees Celsius/36-46 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least six months and administered within existing healthcare settings.

    https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-confirms-protection-against-severe-disease-hospitalisation-and-death-in-the-primary-analysis-of-phase-iii-trials.html

    #FactsMatter, let’s fight the spread of Covid-19 misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. Don’t fall victim of fake news.

    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.

    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 immediate feedback.

    Fact Checked: Did Minister Mayen shoot into the air to disrupt Aweil’s football match?

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    Author: Emmanuel Bida

    Military officials have confirmed that Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management Minister Peter Mayen did not shoot into the air to disrupt women’s football match in the Aweil town of Warrap State as reported by various citizen journalists and alternative media on social media platforms.

    Over the weekend, many South Sudanese netizens and activists went online to condemn the act as seen in the below picture, which stated that Minister Mayen shot into the air, demanding the immediate removal of his alleged wife Aluel Garang from the field.

    The news that went viral on both local and international media claimed that Minister Mayen on Saturday, 17th March 2021 shot into the air to disrupt an ongoing South Sudan’s Women’s League match between the Juba Super Stars and the Aweil Women team striking for the removal of his wife.

    “Minister shoots to stop a football game and take his wife home,” reads one of the headlines. Another of the far-post reads, “South Sudanese Minister disrupts match to forcefully take out wife.”

    “Peter Mayen opens fire at Aweil Freedom to protest wife’s participation in women’s game,” reads the headline of Sudans Post.

    African Sports on Monday posted, “South Sudan’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs & Disaster Management Mr. Peter Mayen Majondit forced a women’s league to be stopped as he stormed the field with gunshots to demand the removal of his wife, Aluel Garang, known as Aluel Messi who plays for Aweil FC.”

    Officials of Aweil Football Association also claim that the minister shot into the air to scare spectators around him, according to Eye Radio’s report.

    What exactly happened?

    According to some sources, Peter Mayen is alleged to have paid a surprising visit to her wife’s family home on Saturday only to find out their three-month-old baby (Mayen Junior) crying in absence of the mother. Inquiring the where-about of the mother, he was told Aluel was for a football match.

    WATCH PETER MAYEN EXPLAINING THE INCIDENT ON EYE RADIO’S DAWN PROGRAM ON TUESDAY

    He then went to the playground where he requested the Aweil coach to substitute his wife, Aluel Garang. It is alleged she was substituted. This indicates that there was no force used.

    However, chaos ensued when spectators blocked his car from leaving, with gates closed, while others started hitting his car and reportedly threatened to beat him up.

    As seen in these videos:

    Peter Mayen Majongdit told the Juba Monitor newspaper on Sunday that he did not shoot into the air. He instead said his bodyguard opened fire to disperse surrounding crowds. According to him, he had gone to bring home his wife who has a small baby. 

    South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) also says the substitution issue was amicably solved but the chaos started during the departure of the minister.

    It should also be noted that the game did not stop. It was played full time.

    What does the FIFA rules say about women on maternity?

    211 Check talked to an official from the South Sudan Football Association (SSFA) on whether they have independent rules governing football in the country and according to them, they work with rules channeled from FIFA which say, “A female player is entitled to maternity leave, defined as a minimum period of 14 weeks…”

    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.

    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 immediate feedback. 

    Uganda’s NBS journalist makes a false statement

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    Author: Emmanuel Bida and Garang Abraham

    Uganda’s renowned media house has over the weekend run a false statement, regarding the distance between Uganda Elegu border town and South Sudan’s capital Juba, 211 Check investigation has found out. 

    On Sunday, NBS Television – Uganda posted on its Facebook page quoting its journalist Daniel Lutaaya as saying that “the Ugandan drivers now have to drive for about 52 hours for a distance of 3,613 kilometers from Elegu to Juba”.

    A screenshot of NBS Facebook post

    For identity purposes, Elegu is a Ugandan town situated between Uganda-South Sudan border area neighboring Nimule town. 

    When 211 fact checked the above NBS statement, the fact checkers team found out the information is false and misleading.

    According to South Sudan Ministry of Roads and Bridges officials, the distance between Juba and Nimule is 192 km. 

    In addition, the Information from Wikipedia also gives the same distance as seen in the below link.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juba%E2%80%93Nimule_Road

    But, can that distance be covered in 52 hours (2 days and 4 hours) under the current circumstances as stated by NBS journalist?

    211 Check contacted the Chairman of the Truck Drivers’ Association, David Kerote who said the distance between Elegu border and Juba is currently being covered in 4 hours’ time if long.

    Findings by 211 Check also found out that the Journalist could have been misled by the following site that has provided similar details published by NBS Television as seen in the link below.

    https://www.distancesfrom.com/ng/how-far-is-Juba-from-elegu/HowFarHistory/37360161.aspx#:~:text=The%20shortest%20road%20distance%20between%20Juba%20to%20elegu%20is%203613,fly%20from%20Juba%20to%20elegu

    Don’t fall victim of fake news and avoid spreading misinformation.

    #FactsMatter, let’s fight the spread of misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media.

    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.

    To know about our fact-checking processes, 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 immediate feedback. 

    Have the 59,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines donated by AU and MTN to S. Sudan expired before use? YES.

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    Author: Emmanuel Bida

    Days ago, a South Sudanese journalist tweeted that a government official has told Reuters it would not use the 59,000 vaccines it had received last month as a donation from MTN and the African Union because they expired on April 13th this year.

    Below is the tweet.

    Original Tweet 

    (https://twitter.com/DenisDumo/status/1382772282129592323?s=19)

    Article by Reuters 

    (https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-cdc-says-cannot-predict-when-second-covid-19-shots-will-arrive-2021-04-15/)

    The tweet and article which did not have sufficient details, raising the ears of the public with many questions remaining unanswered.

    Dr. Atem Riak Anyoun, Director General for Primary Healthcare at the Ministry of Health who also oversees vaccine deployment across the country confirmed to 211 Check on Friday afternoon that indeed the 59,283 doses of the vaccines donated by the African Union and MTN on Monday, 29th March 2021 expired on 13th April 2021 and will not be used.

    “The vaccines from MTN have expired on the 13th of April. We are not using any expired vaccines at all. When a vaccine expires, it will not be used and that is it,” Atem briefly said.

    “The COVAX vaccine is still valid and it will expire in July so this is the one we are using. I want to assure the public that the vaccine we are giving them is a vaccine that is not expired and so there should be no fear of any expired vaccine being used because the one from the African Union, we are not using,” Atem Riak clarified.

    However, it should be noted that the 211 Check team could not immediately see the expired vaccines.

    South Sudan’s COVID-19 vaccination drive kicked off on 6th April with health workers getting their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine at Juba Teaching Hospital. The first person in the country to be vaccinated against the virus was Health Minister Elizabeth Achuei.

    In the coming weeks and months, all frontline health workers in South Sudan will be offered the vaccine, through a national vaccination campaign. Subsequently, people with co-morbidities and people above 65 years of age will also be offered the vaccine.

    South Sudan received 132,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX facility on Thursday, 25 March 2021.

    The country aims at vaccinating 40 percent of its population against COVID-19. The COVAX facility has committed to providing half of the required doses meaning 732,000 doses in total. Therefore, the vaccination must be done in phases as the vaccines arrive according to the World Health Organisation.

    A person being vaccinated with the Astra Zeneca vaccine requires two doses to ensure optimal immune response against the COVID-19 virus. The COVID-19 vaccination in South Sudan will be provided on a voluntary basis and free of charge.  All people receiving the vaccine will be asked to consent prior to being vaccinated.

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