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 imageSecond 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.
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:
Whilst ZANUPF elites are building mansions & buying 4X4s; This is the state of urban roads in Zimbabwe due to the LOOTING of public funds, and the plunder of the nation’s natural resources!
— Hopewell Chin’ono Today (@daddyhope) March 7, 2021
tweeter minister mbalula your focus must be based on service delivery not barking here on twitter you forget your mandate in parliament you only bark rubbish. . pic.twitter.com/zeWHhjbqZv
— Africa The land of my birth✊ (@NomalungeloKing) March 8, 2021
#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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211-Check-False_Juba-city.png10961939211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-29 10:14:092021-04-29 10:14:20Is this street found in Juba, South Sudan?
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.
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.
#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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211Check-Vaccines.jpg8001200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-21 16:30:022021-04-29 09:56:53Fact Checked: Did AU and MTN donate expired Covid-19 vaccines to S. Sudan?
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.
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.
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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211Check-Peter-Mayen.jpg8001200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-21 15:06:482021-04-29 09:57:04Fact Checked: Did Minister Mayen shoot into the air to disrupt Aweil’s football match?
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.
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.
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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211Check-Elegu-to-Juba.jpg8001200211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-21 11:48:342021-04-29 09:57:18Uganda’s NBS journalist makes a false statement
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.
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.
Beware of fabricated content and avoid sharing themfor 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 immediate feedback.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AstraZeneca-vaccines-donation-by-AU-and-MTN.png10801920developerhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.pngdeveloper2021-04-19 09:03:452021-04-29 09:57:26Have the 59,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines donated by AU and MTN to S. Sudan expired before use? YES.
Last week, the global fact-checking community again observes International Fact-Checking Day. It’s an annual celebration for our community and a rallying cry for better information in public health, journalism and everyday life.
April 2021 also marks a year of Covid-19 lockdown. Around this time last year, countries began introducing restrictions on the movement of people in order to slow the spread of the disease.
Covid-19 misinformation was one of the year’s toughest challenges. It exposed a danger fact-checkers have warned about for years: false and misleading claims can ruin lives. .
And it highlighted a question long debated by fact-checkers. Hundreds of harmful claims are made every day. How do we know we’re checking the most important ones?
We get by with a little help from our (AI) friends
In 2019, Africa Check and three of its international partners received a US$2 million grant from Google.org to use machine learning to dramatically improve and scale global fact-checking efforts. It was through the Africa Check grant that 211 Check mobilized more than 50 journalists in Juba to attend the first ever fact checking training in South Sudan.
Over six months, and with the help of six Google.org fellows, Africa Check built artificial intelligence tools to detect claims made by people in the public eye, group them by topic, and match them with similar claims in both traditional and social media.
For 211 Check, the organization late last year recruited a team of 15, possessing of media practitioners, bloggers and social media influencers that have on daily basis engaged in mitigation of misinformation, hate speech and incitement to violence online. 211 Check, among others has also trained more than 70 journalists across South Sudan on Fact checking and Information Verification – in a move to empower them for the locals to have hate-free societies.
Electricity supply and migrant workers
Here are a few examples.
In October 2020 André de Ruyter, CEO of South Africa’s government-owned electricity producer Eskom, claimed that blackouts across the country had been caused by “the coldest winter in 10 years’.
Although temperatures that winter were found to be generally below normal, data did not support the claim. And experts said the power system should be able to handle winter demand peaks.
Our AI tools also picked up a startling claim by South Africa’s minister of finance, Tito Mboweni.
When he returned from exile in 1990, he said, eight in 10 restaurant workers were South African. “The other two were probably Malawian or Zimbabwean. Today almost 100% are non-South African.” Again, no data supported the claim. In a country where tensions between citizens and foreign nationals often run high, unsupported claims like this do little to help.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IFCD.jpg5401440211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-15 08:29:452021-04-15 08:59:39International Fact-Checking Day 2021: Artificial intelligence will change fact-checking forever
Juba Television – unregulated online media house with 211,184 followers a few hours ago posted that President Salva Kiir resigned and ran to Bor Town.
“Breaking News: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has resigned and run to Bor. This is a developing story” reads Juba TV post that has 376 likes, 167 comments and 16 shared by 2:30 CAT today.
When fact checked by 211, it was identified that the information is misleading and fake content which might/can harm the public.
According to Eye Radio official Facebook page, Press Secretary – Ateny Wek Ateny said President Kiir is in Bor on an official visit.
“It is an official visit to see things for himself starting from inspecting the road….and to see how people in Bor are copping after the flooding” said Ateny.
According to Ateny, President Kiir is expected to return to Juba this evening.
Through Facebook Livestream, 211 Check has also witnessed Kiir addressing mob in Bor Town today.
Kindly, disregard the trending information that Kiir has resigned and please don’t engage yourself in any online mis/disinformation and hate related content.
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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211-Check-April-Fact-Check_Postcard_3.png10801920211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-01 13:58:072021-04-19 08:29:28Fact Checked: Did President Kiir resigned and ran to Bor?
Kindly disregard the current trending video on WhatsApp and Facebook which states that the then SPLA soldiers opened fire on protestors in Western Bhar-el-Ghazel State.
Earlier this morning, a video surfaced online indicating that some residents of Western Bhar-el-Ghazel State took to the streets in protest of government’s decision to relocate the state local council headquarter as seen in the video below.
When fact check by 211, the video was re-shared [fabricated] to incite people, following the recent protest in Juba over the death of prominent South Sudanese singer Trisha Cee who succumbed to her injuries after involving in a motor-bike accident over the weekend.
As reported by Al Jazeera’s Anna Cavell eight years ago, the incident happened on December 14 2012.
Residents of Wau town had gathered to protest against the relocation of a local council headquarter. At least nine people were reportedly killed in the protest.
The British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) also quoted the United Nations spokesperson who said South Sudanese army killed 10 people when it opened fire on demonstrators angry at the relocation of a local council HQ in the north-west of the country.
It should be noted that there is no any development regarding any relocation of a council headquarter currently in Western Bhar-el-Ghazel State. Western Bhar-el-Ghazel State is yet to have it local government as stipulated in the 2018 peace agreement.
Beware of fabricated content and avoid sharing themfor 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.
https://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/211-Check-April-Fact-Check_Postcard_1.png10801920211 Checkhttps://211check.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/211Check_logo-1-300x120.png211 Check2021-04-01 10:32:172021-04-19 08:29:42Fabricated Wau protest video fact checked
South Sudan authorities have refuted media report which states that nine Uganda nationals were killed in South Sudan over the weekend.
The New Vision’s Tuesday edition specified that nine Uganda drivers were killed in a highway ambush along Juba-Yei road on Sunday.
“Nine Ugandan drivers shot dead in South Sudan, Sudanese rebels suspected to be behind killings” reads New Vision headline.
However, Paulino Lukudu – Central Equatoria Information Minister in his media briefing on Monday evening stated clearly that the Sunday Ganji incident left three Ugandans and one South Sudanese dead.
Radio Miraya also reported the same incident indicating the same data, bearing the death of three Uganda nationals.
Other related stories
Uganda’s Daily Monitor also reported that four Ugandan drivers were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Yei-Juba highway while heading to Juba for business – a data that is little bit similar to South Sudan’s one.
The deceases are identified as Stephen Amati, Dada Abugo, Ali Sonny and Sadam Noah, according to Koboko Resident District Commissioner – Mr Sazir Mayanja.
Though 21 Check couldn’t access the link to New Vison website, the source who spoke to New Vision might gave offered wrong information to such a prominent media house.
NB: It also need to be noted that there are no Sudanese rebels in South Sudan. Those behind the ambush are alleged to be The National Salvation Front armed men.
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.
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