Tag Archive for: #FactCheck

Fact-check: Is Al Fateh Tower destroyed in Khartoum, Sudan?

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No, the claim that the Al Fateh tower was destroyed is false; the image doing the rounds online has been altered.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

According to a Facebook post by Dalmout Media, the Corinthia Hotel, commonly known as Burj Al Fateh, has been destroyed in the current civil war in Sudan. The page has an audience of 6,500 likes and 2,800 followers and claimed in a post that had already made five shares within 18 hours of circulation.

The same picture was also shared on Twitter here.

Burj Al Fateh, also known as Corinthia Hotel, overlooks Tuti Island, where the Blue and White Nile converge and are shaped to resemble a twin sail. It is one of the city’s most luxurious and atmospheric hotels.

A screenshot of the picture used by Dalwout Media in the post

According to the Google search lens, there is no destruction on the Burj Al Fateh building in Khartoum, Sudan. Still, the image that Dalwout Media uses is an altered picture of the original image of the building. This is because there needs to be evidence from the main and international media like Al Jazeera, who have been following and covering the war from day one.

Some of the views under the Dalwout Media post stated that “The situation is tragic enough without fake photos being used and certainly does not support your credibility.” Rebecca Bradley. This supports the fact that the building wasn’t destroyed. 

AI Fateh Tower, also commonly called Burj AI-Fateh Hotel and Corinthia Hotel, is a five-star hotel located in central Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, the meeting point of the Blue Nile and the White Nile In the centre of Khartoum’s commercial, business and administrative districts.  

A picture of the Burj AL-Fateh Hotel.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that the war in Sudan has destroyed Burj Al Fateh as false; the image was altered. The picture was randomly collected from the internet to fabricate a story that has yet to occur in Khartoum, Sudan, due to the clashes in Sudan.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Is this an authentic Facebook page for Minister Josephine Lagu?

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No, this is an example of social media scams that steal personal information from unsuspecting public members.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

A Facebook page in the name of Hon Josephine Lagu has sponsored a post and published two advertisements on 23 March 2023 inviting farmers to apply for “funding,” but this is false.

The page with 513 likes and 519 followers was created on 23 March 2023 and is being managed from Kenya according to its transparency information, but claims that the Ministry of Agriculture in South Sudan has received funding to improve agricultural development and mechanisation in a joint venture with the World Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the  World Food Program. Hon Josephine Lagu is the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. 

Screenshot of the Facebook page transparency information

“This program aims to modernise agriculture and increase productivity. The funds will be used to purchase agricultural machinery for farmers to increase mechanisation and productivity. Farmers are invited to indicate the necessary agricultural equipment to modernise their farming operations and mechanize for agricultural productivity. Enterprises that hire farm equipment to farmers are also encouraged to apply,” partly reads the sponsored Facebook advertisement

A screenshot from the Facebook page 

Investigation:

The advert is linked to a Google Form, which requires the applicant to fill in his /her details and the type of assistance needed.  The personal information required is the applicant’s name, contact details and location. 

This advert is a typical example of social media scams that intend to steal people’s details for them to use for their personal gains. Hackers use this trick to dupe people into giving out their personal details. 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security does not run such programs. Recently, similar adverts have been running using government ministries and individuals claiming to be giving loans and assistance in many ways, as seen here,  here, and here.  

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that Josephine Lagu, South Sudan’s minister for agriculture and food security through her Facebook page, is calling for the public to apply for farming assistance false. The Facebook page on which the advert is running does not belong to the minister herself hence the call for application is ‘just a social media scam’

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: These pictures don’t depict the Sudan pipeline transporting oil from South Sudan

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These pictures were first used in India in 2015 and 2018; therefore, they’re not from Sudan

Writer: Jibi Moses

Sixty 4 Tribes Press, a Facebook page, published an article accompanied by two pictures of pipelines, the other on fire. The page claimed that locals in Port Sudan had set Sudan pipelines carrying South Sudan oil ablaze. 

The Facebook post attracted over 160 reactions, 60 comments and 49 shares, but it is false.

A screenshot of the post by Sixty 4 Tribes Press

Investigation:

211 Check carried out a reverse image search on the pictures, and the results showed images from different locations. One of the images was first used by an Indian Press, Energyworld.com, explaining the Bhilai Steel Plant Blast in a blog published on October 10, 2018. 

Other instances were the Bhilai steel plant blast, and the images used are shown here, here, here, and here.

Oilprice.com Nasdaq used the second image on Dec 3rd 2015. After that, many other sources have used it in their articles, as seen in links 1,  2, and 3. The photo is used as a stock image on the internet

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that locals have razed down pipelines in Sudan carrying South Sudan is false. The pictures shared are not of the Sudan pipeline carrying South Sudan’s oil being set ablaze; they trace their origin back to 2015 and 2018, respectively, with one of an incident of the Bhilai steel plant blast in Chhattisgarh, India, not in Sudan.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Is UNICEF currently offering employment opportunities?

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No, UNICEF has not advertised any jobs as claimed in this advert link; it is just a social media scam that people should avoid.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

A job advert claiming to be from UNICEF recently went viral on social media, mainly WhatsApp groups, but it is false.

The advert’s welcoming note on the site’s homepage reads, “Welcome to UNICEF Application Form Portal. Click on the below to start your registration. All nationalities are eligible to apply.”

A screenshot of the false advert on WhatsApp

Investigation:

211 Check analysed the site’s address using VirusTotal, a tool used to analyse suspicious files, domains, IPs and URLs to detect malware and other breaches and automatically share them with the security community. The results show that it is phishing malware. 

A screenshot of the Virustotal analysis results. 

Secondly, UNICEF South Sudan published a disclaimer on its Facebook page, alerting the public that they have not advertised for jobs. Therefore, the public should ignore the message in circulation and consistently get open jobs from their website.

“This message going around via WhatsApp and other online platforms suggests applications to UNICEF. This is a fake job advert or calls for application. All UNICEF vacancies are announced on this official website 👉🏾 http://jobs.unicef.org. Only use this website address to view our latest vacancies and to apply for them,” UNICEF South Sudan said in a Facebook post.

“𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 receive applications (including cover letters and CVs) through WhatsApp or email. Do not open the link in the screenshot; 𝗜𝗧 𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗔𝗞𝗘!” It added.

The UNICEFdisclaimer as it is on their Facebook page

Lastly, when the link is opened on a protected computer with an updated antivirus, it is automatically blocked.

Screenshot showing the site being blocked by NordVPN

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that claim that UNICEF is offering jobs through a site other than its original website is false. According to the above results, this job advert is a phishing scam and not genuine. Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers deceive people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware. 

We should always be aware by updating our gadgets with powerful anti-viruses and avoiding opening suspicious links. The public should use basic cyber skills to identify such scams quickly. 

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: These shoes (Tex Hazel) weren’t found in South Sudan

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The shoes were invented and used by a cattle thief named Crazy Tex Hazel in 1920 for stealing cows and are currently kept in the Northeastern Nevada Museum in Nevada, USA.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

Suncity Tv, a local blog in South Sudan, posted on the 11th of March, 2023, a story with pictures of homemade wood and leather shoes with a design of two pairs of cow hooves on each, allegedly found in some village in South Sudan, but this claim is false. 

The page with over 7,000 followers describes itself as a Society and Culture website on a mission to change the negative narrative of South Sudan, promoting all the 64 tribes in South Sudan by showcasing their culture and lifestyles and sharing myriads of success stories to keep you inspired had captioned the shoes, “These shoes were found in some village in South Sudan (village name hidden). A cattle thief designed and used it to hide his footprint while on duty.’’

A screenshot of the post by Suncity TV.

Investigation:

On running a Google Reverse Image Search on the picture, several results were brought on the internet 211 check found that the same pictures were first used in 2021 by a Facebook page named Bentiu Tv and Agogo Ayo, a blog named 9GAG, further still the same pictures were posted on Reddit. 

Some sites that previously used this picture can be found here, here, and here. All these pages and blogs clearly explain that these shoes were used by a man called Crazy Tex Hazelwood. He was a notorious cattle thief in America in the year 1920.

In the 1920s, one small-time thief named Crazy Tex Hazelwood made a pair of ingenious boots so he would not get caught stealing cattle from his neighbours. This pair of “boots” look like slippers attached to two cow hooves on each slipper.

These shoes are currently in the Northeast Nevada Museum in Nevada, USA.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that claim that the shoes in the picture were found in a South Sudanese village is false. The shoes are not found anywhere in South Sudan but were used in the US by a notorious cattle thief  Crazy Tex Hazel. The shoes are kept in the Northeastern Nevada Museum but not in South Sudan.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: This job advert is not from the National Population Census

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No, it’s a scam. The National Population Census is not currently hiring.

Writer: Jibi Moses

An advert running mainly in WhatsApp groups, claiming to be from the National Population Census is false.

The advert is too open with minimal information about its origin and where the jobs are located precisely. Clicking the link quickly leads to a better-looking but sketchy interface, with two individuals and the Nigerian National Population Commission logo. Meaning the advert originated or was intended for Nigerians.

The advert strongly advises people to apply as soon as possible and emphasises that they seek qualified and willing people. The form asks for your personal information, including Name, phone number, email and physical address. 

After all this, it will ask you to validate your names. Then it asks you to share with either five WhatsApp groups or 15 individuals as a condition to get to the last stage and, therefore, will get a confirmation email. 

“The reason for NPC Online recruitment is to employ qualified staff who will aid in the successful conduct of the 2023 trial census. They need people who are willing and capable of performing several tasks as required by the National Population Commission. Apply now by filling the below form. Kindly apply below to be selected,” partly reads the advert 

Screenshot of the WhatsApp message

Investigation:

211 Check looked at the Nigerian National Population Census website, the site had no job advertisement, and all its activities were clearly explained.

On running Whois Domain IP on both sites we realised that the two are very different entities as the one for the National Population Census uses its original name, for the job advert uses getoffers-now.online.

Screenshot details of the NPC website 

A screenshot from the advert link website

Due to its virality and believability, the advert has been making rounds in many other countries in East and Central Africa. So, in this case, the government of Uganda came out with a disclaimer for the public to know it’s a fake.

Given the findings above, 211 Check found that the job advert from NPC is a scam intended to siphon people’s details. A process called phishing. Scammers use this skill because it seems attractive and less suspicious. After all, one will be interested in a job which isn’t available in the first place. However, these scams can usually be detected, and one must be vigilant because some jobs are too good to be true.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Did NRA South Sudan publish a recruitment advert?

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Yes, it’s true. Recently, the NRA advertised for multiple jobs, and they were all over the internet. 

Writer: Rogers Louis

A copy of a job advertisement from the National Revenue Authority (NRA) surfaced on the internet (Facebook and  WhatsApp groups) between 27th and 28th March 2023, announcing that the NRA calls for applications for several vacancies. The posts were first run on the NRA Facebook page with a  caption.

 NRA is hiring!

Visit the link below for more details.

All the best!

A screenshot of one of the jobs advertised by the NRA.

Investigation

When 211 check.org investigated the NRA South Sudan official website, it found out that the link provided on the https://nra.gov.ss/ website has the job advert.

Immediately the job advert was released to the public, it raised a lot of suspicions and concerns from the crowd because the number of jobs was so many and in a way or so people were doubting. 

Secondly and most importantly, recently early this year, the internet was awash with similar job advertisements from NRA, which turned out to be fake. 211 Check Fact-checked early this year, and it saved a lot of people since then, many have been suspicious of such job alerts.

Here is the official NRA SS website https://nra.gov.ss/ you can visit and confirm the information, and there is a part for Careers whereby Vacancies are found or otherwise if they contract a third party to conduct the information and announce it.

By double-checking everything, investigate all the adverts and news surfacing online on  Facebook, WhatsApp, and other websites. It must appear on at least many other websites, not only one, but claims which are scams can also lead to catastrophic results for example, when you press it, you will be directed to a different website and during the direction, your connection to a fake webpage your credentials are copied and sent to the hacker by the (Virus/Warm etc.), and it is hazardous because some sensitive personal information is stolen and shared or sold to the highest bidder and as a result may be some bank accounts will have some amount withdrawn or email or Facebook account will be hijacked, and you will be requested to pay a ransom (Ransomware).

Conclusion:

The above analysis found that NRA South Sudan advertised the jobs, and on many occasions, they came out to encourage the public to apply. 

It is always good to be vigilant and cautious while online. The internet is full of both safe and dangerous information. Having basic fact-checking and verification skills is necessary and paramount for everyone.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Did this woman run mad somewhere in South Sudan?

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Pictures of a bride who ran mad on her traditional marriage didn’t happen in South Sudan, and they are believed to have occurred somewhere in Uganda.

Writer: Jibi Moses

Suncity TV, a Facebook page, recently ran a story with pictures of a bride who allegedly ran mad in South Sudan.

“Bride goes mad during her traditional marriage somewhere in South Sudan. Eyewitness gali she snatched someone’s husband,” partly reads the caption. 

A screenshot of the post by Suncity TV

Investigation:

A Google reverse image search by 211 Check returns the same picture used on the internet by many other sources with different stories behind it. Edujan  don.com, A Nigerian online blog, ran a story with these pictures claiming the incident happened in Masaka, a district in central Uganda, on the 7th of March, 2023. 

The face of Malawi, a Malawian online news site, ran a similar one on the 9th of March 2023, claiming the incident happened in Tanzania. Finally, Tica Saviour, based in Nigeria, also claimed the act occurred in Nigeria. Raphael Abusari made a TikTok video, although it had no excruciating details. 

A screenshot from Raphael’s TikTok video

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim false. Given the above evidence, although the picture’s origin isn’t clearly defined, there’s enough evidence that it didn’t happen anywhere in South Sudan. 

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Did President Kiir cry on his return  from the tour in Bahr el Ghazal?

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No, this picture of the president is old  taken way earlier in 2018, and has been on the internet for a long time.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A picture of South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir was shared by Junub Sudan Press on 23 March 2023 in a post that went viral. The post attracted around 70 reactions, 40 comments and 29 shares in 20 hours. 

“Breaking News!!.

President Kiir shades tears on arrival from Bahr-el-ghazal after he was shown the current rate of Dollar against SSP and handed a short list of five hungry and incapacitated politicians who had submitted their interests for the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning Docket under the drowning leadership of Dier Tong Ngor and Governor of Central Bank.

What made His Excellency cry was the fact that James Deng Wal and Barnaba Marial Benjamin has forged into……,” partly reads the caption.

A screenshot of the post used by Junub South Sudan

On running a Google reverse image search on the picture, Google lenses returned many results showing that the picture has been used before. The first time it was used was in 2018 by 

South Sudan in Focus.

AFTABOSS a website used the same image in 2018 with a title that ran as the 13 theories of political crisis in South Sudan and in 2021 it was used by Ramciel Tip-toe-Top, with a heading Facts about the president of South Sudan, H.E SALVA KIIR MAYARDIT. 

The same image was used by Akuot Chol on Getty Images. Meanwhile the Photos of H.E President Salva Kiir taken when he was arriving yesterday from his tour shows otherwise as seen in the official page Office of the president -Republic of South sudan.

A screenshot of the image of the president yesterday when he touched Juba

Conclusion:

Given the evidence above collected by 211 check. This image of the president was not taken yesterday when he arrived Juba. He was not crying either as portrayed by the writer. This was an old picture which dates back to 2018.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Did Pope Francis say celibacy can be revised? Yes, he did

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He did, during a celebration ceremony of his tenth Papal year. When asked by Infobae whether celibacy could be revised, Francis answered that it could. He added that Celibacy in the Western Church is a “temporary prescription… It is not eternal like priestly ordination.”

Writer: Jibi Moses

A blog post by suncitytvsouthsudan claims Pope Francis said celibacy could be revised. “In a new interview, Pope Francis discussed the possibility of revising the Western discipline of celibacy. Priestly celibacy…” the blog post says in part.

A similar post was published on Phoenix news: “Pope Francis says Catholic Church banning priests from engaging in sex is ‘temporary.”

Screenshot of a post by suncity 

The post is seen on Phoenix. 

Searches on Bing and Google return many results confirming the claim’s accuracy. Pope Francis was in defence of saying that celibacy is a temporary prescription.

“When asked by Infobae whether celibacy could be revised, Francis answered that it could. He added that Celibacy in the Western Church is a “temporary prescription… It is not eternal like priestly ordination,”  a caption from an article reads.

Some of the explanations can be found here, here, and here. In addition to the articles, there are some videos too 1, 2, 3. The Fox News Channel clarified that the church banning clerics from sex is ‘Temporal’.

So, what is celibacy?

Clerical celibacy is the requirement in certain religions that some or all clergy members be unmarried. Clerical celibacy also requires abstention from deliberately indulging in sexual thoughts and behaviour outside of marriage because these impulses are considered sinful. The practice has been in the catholic for almost over 1000 years. According to Wikipedia, it was made a prerequisite for one to take a religious role. And it was started by the forefathers in the church. According to Quora, celibacy was introduced by Gregory the Great.

In 1322 Pope John XXII insisted that no one bound in marriage—even if unconsummated—could be ordained unless there was full knowledge of the requirements of Church law. If the free consent of the wife had not been obtained, the husband, even if already ordained, was to be reunited with his wife, the exercise of his ministry being barred. Accordingly, the assumption that a wife might not want to give up her marital rights may have been one of the factors contributing to the eventual universal practice in the Latin Church of ordaining only unmarried men.

Despite all the Clergy suggestions about celibacy and marriage, when asked whether the practice would draw more people into the church, He replied that he didn’t think so because there have been priests with wives and children, especially in the East.  

There has always been a lot of controversy around priests and keeping this command which they take as an oath before God to serve Him diligently. The Church has been grappling with it, with some cases reported and sorted while many remain in the dark, as seen here, here, and here.

Conclusion:

Yes, it is true that Pope Francis, during an interview marking his tenth year of  Papal journey,  was recorded saying that celibacy can be revised because it’s temporary. Similarly, he said the Church denying priests sex is equally temporary.

Fight misinformation in mainstream and alternative media by not being a victim of fake news. Refrain from sharing content you are unsure about or don’t know where it comes from to prevent spreading false information. For more information on our fact-checking process, visit https://211check.org/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim. Our team will fact-check it and respond promptly. #FactsMatter