Tag Archive for: #FactCheck

Fact-check: This video of a leaking roof isn’t at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda 

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The video is of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A video making rounds on social media, claiming to show a leaking roof at Entebbe International Airport, is misleading.

The video, which was shared on TikTok (archived here) on November 16, 2023, among other platforms, had a voice from the background and words inscribed on it that said:  “Our Entebbe Airport this morning, when a country rots, everything goes with it.”

However, the comments from the post raised suspicion, as many people were disputing that this is not Entebbe International Airport but Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). This prompted 211 Check to investigate the video.

The screenshot of the claim as shown on TikTok

Claim Verification:

A keyword search of the words ‘A video of a leaking roof at Entebbe International Airport’ brought several results, all of which showed that the incident happened at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Some of the results were reported by Kenyan media outlets such as here and here, which, on November 16, 2023, said that the Ugandan Civil Aviation Authority had put out a statement to clarify that the incident did not occur at Entebbe International Airport. 

The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority made a statement on November 15, 2023, telling the public to ignore the trending video of an ‘unfortunate situation at an airport in a neighbouring country.’

Please ignore the trending video of an unfortunate situation at an airport in a neighbouring country, which some WhatsApp users have wrongly attributed to Entebbe International Airport. Note that this is not Entebbe International Airport; read the message on CAA’s X handle, which is accompanied by the same video.

On 14 November 2023, one of the leading Kenyan news outlets, Citizen TV, reported about the incident at the JKIA. The report also mentioned that Kenya’s Transport Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, blamed the incident on the previous government, which allegedly did shoddy work on terminals 1C and 1E.

Many other sources reported the incident, as seen here, here, here, and here.

Has Entebbe International Airport ever had leaking roofs?

On September 6, 2023, the Daily Monitor published an article titled

Entebbe International Airport floods amid UPDF construction. The flooding was attributed to leaks from the upper floors of the terminal building, as the area was under ongoing expansion. 

A screenshot from the Daily Monitor’s publication

On November 17, 2023, Newsday, an online outlet, ran a story describing the situation at Entebbe Airport. The story’s headline was:  Seyani Brothers on the spot over leaking roof at Entebbe Airport

Videos making the rounds show one of the newly constructed passenger terminal buildings by the Seyani Brothers with water on the floor following torrential rains.

Seyani was contracted to work on the airport passenger terminal to the tune of Sh42b.

According to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, the landside expansion by M/s Seyani Brothers (U) Ltd. sought to provide more room and comfort for service users, especially passengers,” partly read the article written by Newsday.

Given the above articles, there have been past leakage/s at Entebbe International Airport, which seemingly made the JKIA incident believable to the Ugandan public. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the video making the rounds on social media, claimed to show a leaking roof at Entebbe International Airport, to be misleading. The video is of JKIA in Nairobi, Kenya. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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

Fact-check: Is this picture related to the situation in Congo in 2023?

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No, although it was taken in Zaire, the image was captured in January 1994 and is of a Rwandese boy crying over his dead father. 

Writer: Jibi Moses 

An image circulating on WhatsApp depicting a boy appearing to cry while holding onto an individual lying on the ground, purportedly illustrating the situation in Congo in 2023, is misleading.

The picture, which was first spotted on WhatsApp as a screenshot, has been shared on other platforms, such as Instagram. 

Dear World…..African lives matter please make noice about Congo as you do in some parts of the world. Congo is currently going through genocide 

The screenshot of the image as shared on the WhatsApp group

It has also been shared here and here. 

Claim Verification:

211 Check carried out an image reverse search of the image on Yandex and found that the same image has been on social media before 2023.

The results show that Getty Images posted the image with the description indicating it was captured on January 1, 1994, and credited it to American photographer Peter Turnley.

Getty Images’ photo was titled: ‘Boy Crying over His Dead Father’s Body’

Screenshot of the part of the post as used by Getty Images 

 Screenshot of the details of the picture on Getty Images

The search results for the image on Bing.com also brought up several times the image had been used in the past, such as in 2006, 2011, and 2015. 

Additionally, the same picture was wrongly used by a Zimbabwean outlet but was fact-checked by Fact-CheckZw as not true. The fact-check also linked to a 2012 interview with Turnley, which used a different angle of the photo under investigation. 

Congo conflict 2023:

The DR Congo has been experiencing conflict, mainly in the eastern parts of the country, said to be perpetuated by armed groups. Despite the fact that there are ongoing conflicts in DR Congo orchestrated by militia groups, this picture is not an accurate representation of current events. 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found that the picture circulating online purporting to show the situation in the Congo is misleading. The picture was taken in 1994, when a boy was pictured crying over the dead body of his father.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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

Fact-check: Is fenbendazole an approved cure for cancer?

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No, there’s insufficient evidence that fenbendazole can cure cancer.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

A message circulating in WhatsApp groups claiming that fenbendazole, a dog deworming medicine, can cure cancer in people is misleading. 

The message, in the form of a screenshot,  asks people to look up the ‘Joe Tippens Protocol’ to learn all about ‘Fenbenzadol /Pancur’. According to the message, Pancur kills almost every cancer and is made up of a drug called ‘fenbendazole (sic)’, which kills the cells. and explains that it is unlike the medication the National Health Service provides. 

It is accompanied by a message that says: “Please, my people, your cure for cancer has arrived.”

The claim was also posted here, based on the account of Joe Tippens, an American man who claimed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, which later went into remission after he began taking fenbendazole on a veterinarian’s recommendation.

Screenshot of message from WhatsApp

Videos about the protocol have also been shared here, here, here and here.

Claim Verification:

According to research published in the AntiCancer Research Journal in 2013, “studies provided no evidence that fenbendazole warrants further testing as a potential agent for use in cancer therapy.” The study suggested that it was possible that related compounds could be valuable anticancer drugs. 

Additionally,  a study published by the American National Library of Medicine noted no evidence that fenbendazole would have value in cancer therapy but suggested further investigations. 

The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also warned against products claiming to cure cancer on websites or social media platforms. 

Further, Juba-based oncologist James Zabit Christopher told 211 Check via message that fenbendazole isn’t a proven anticancer therapy. “It is a broad spectrum benzimidazole anthelmintic used against parasites including giardia, roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms. It is a dewormer for domestic animals,” he wrote in response to our query. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds out that the claim circulating in WhatsApp groups claiming that fenbendazole, a dog deworming medicine, can cure cancer in people is scientifically unproven. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance(AFCA).

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

Fact-check: Is WHO offering these jobs in South Sudan?

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No, the website claiming to be WHO’s recruitment portal is a scam. The World Health Organization publishes vacancies and manages candidate profiles using the Stellis platform.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A WhatsApp message with a link to this website claiming to be the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recruitment portal is a hoax.

A screenshot of the WhatsApp message with a website link  that claims to be giving jobs 

The website features the United Nations agency’s branding and a form for prospective job seekers to fill out. The form collects an applicant’s essential information, such as name, gender, email, phone number, and country of residence.

A screenshot of the next interface of the website

The interface where they ask for the applicant’s details in the form.

After clicking the “Apply Now” button, a new page opens and supposedly displays the count of submitted applications. Job seekers are then prompted to “validate their name to proceed to the next step.”

“Note! The number of applicants is limited,” the message on the page reads.

Below the message are alleged testimonials from people who have already applied. 

On clicking the “Continue” button, a new page opens on which job seekers are prompted to provide their name and current level of education. “Send” is the next button, and upon clicking it, a new page opens congratulating the applicant for qualifying to work at the WHO.

However, the portal fails to specify the type of job the applicant is applying for. Nonetheless, the page instructs users to share the information with five groups or 15 friends on WhatsApp to access the WHO “Staff Form.”

The last stage where the form asks the applicant to share in five groups or 15 friends.

Following this step, users are informed that their application was successful, and they are promised a confirmation email.

Upon clicking prompts for application status, printing a PDF, or submitting, users are taken to a different phishing website.

Claim Verification:

A Google keyword search using the “WHO recruitment application portal” yielded no credible results or official announcements related to such recruitment.

The purported job offers and their nature resemble phishing scams, hence 211 Check’s decision to investigate the website’s authenticity. Phishing scams collect personal information under the guise of offering rewards or benefits.

Scammers use similar tactics for fraud, enticing users to bogus websites with promises of rewards. Victims are also urged to share the offers.

Notably, there is no information about the recruitment we are fact-checking on the WHO website, its verified Facebook page, Twitter, or Instagram accounts.

The website we are fact-checking has the domain name abancy.com, which is not the legitimate domain of WHO (who. int).

The WHOIS information for the purported recruitment site shows that it was registered on August 28, 2023, in Great Britain – UK (abbreviated as GB).

The whois details of the abancy.com form

A similar WHOIS search of the official WHO website yielded no results. WHO states on its website that it uses a platform called Stellis to publish vacancies and manage candidate profiles.

The URL provided in the WhatsApp message is flagged as phishing, malicious, and malware by VirusTotal, an online tool that assesses suspicious websites.

The UN agency explicitly cautions job seekers against falling victim to scammers and emphasises that it does not engage in lotteries or provide prizes or awards through any digital medium.

“Should you wish to receive job alerts from Stellis, please register through the profile access links as a user/login. Once you’re logged into the system, go to your profile and then to Preferences to activate a job alert and save your job search criteria. You will then receive email alerts when jobs matching your criteria are published,” a message on the WHO website reads.

The official site for the WHO job site

Conclusion:

211 Check has examined a website claiming to be the recruitment portal of the World Health Organisation (WHO), as shared through a WhatsApp message, and found it to be false, a scam, and a hoax.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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

Fact-check: Were some parts of the Barl-el-Ghazal Road washed away during the November rains?

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No, the images used in this post were collected from different sources and at different times.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

These images shared on a Facebook post, archived here, claiming that rain washed away one of the lanes of the Juba-Bar el Ghazal Road in November 2023 are partly false.

Watchdog Press, a Facebook page, published the claim on November 8, 2023, where one of the photos had the image of a man. The post reads: “#Breaking #News: A heavy downpour yesterday washed away one of the lanes of the Juba-Bar-el- Ghazal highway. This is the second embarrassment of Gimcrack work following a two years incident where the same highway was destroyed by rain.”

The screenshot of the post made by Watchdog Press

The post attracted comments from Facebook users, some saying that the information was baseless, while others said the incident happened in Kenya, not South Sudan. 

This prompted us to conduct an investigation. 

Some of the comments from the public 

Claim verification

Image One:

211Check ran a Google Reverse Image Search on the first image, which returned the image as being of Mayiik Ayii Deng. 

Mayiik Ayii Deng is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as a former Minister of Presidential Affairs.

From the results, this particular image of Mayiik was seemingly first shared on August 25, 2020, by Juba TV in a post that claimed he had stolen COVID-19 money in Somalia.

A screenshot of the post on Juba TV in 2020

Image Two:

211 Check carried out reverse searches on the rundown road on different search engines, like Microsoft Bing and Yandex, but they did not return any results. The image seemingly does not have an internet footprint.

Image Three:

With this image, Google Lens reverse search returned results showing that the image was taken in Zambia.

The Zambia Times, on February 14, 2017, posted the picture with a headline: ‘The newly tarred Luangwa-Feira Road has been damaged by heavy rains.’ 

A screenshot of the post as published by Lusaka Times in 2017

Other sites that published similar stories with this image can also be seen here, here, here, and here.

The Great East Road:

Luangwa-Feira Road, also called The Great East Road, or T4 Highway, is a major Zambian highway linking the Eastern Province to the rest of the country and also the most important link between Zambia, Malawi, and northern Mozambique. The overall objectives of the Great East Road (T4) Rehabilitation Project are to reduce poverty and promote equitable economic growth and regional integration in Zambia. 

Juba Bar el Ghazal Road and rains:

In November 2023, Juba and most surrounding areas received a lot of rain, causing flash floods in some areas and seasonal streams. 

This caused speculations and claims that some parts of different roads under construction in South Sudan have been washed away seemingly because there were reports of the road being washed away in 2020.  The incident was reported here, here and here.

However, there hasn’t been a report of the same in November 2023. 

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that some parts of the Barl-el-Ghazal road lane were washed away by the recent rains to be false, as the images used in this post were collected from different sources and at different times. One being from South Sudan, another from Zambia, and one that could not be traced online.  This claim, if not fact-checked, has the capacity to ruin the credibility of the road construction companies in South Sudan, as there are currently some projects being carried out. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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

Fact check: Is this a picture of a road washed by rain in South Sudan?

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No, the road that was flashed off by flooding was a road between Garissa and Modogashe in Kenya.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook post with a picture of a road halfway washed by rain, purportedly in South Sudan, is false.

The post was shared on November 7, 2023, with a catchy headline, “Chinese-SPLM-IG fake contract. Imagine only one rain.” It attracted comments with differing opinions that prompted 211 Check to investigate. The same pictures were also shared by a different user here.

It should be noted that Chinese companies were contracted to build some South Sudanese highways connecting Juba to the state capitals. 

Here is a screenshot of the post on Facebook.

Claim Verification:

211 Check carried out a Google Search using Google Lens on the picture, and it returned several results as a newly constructed road between Garissa and Modogashe by a Chinese contractor.

Omwamba posted this picture on his X handle on November 6, 2023, titled “The rain has eaten the recently constructed road between Garissa and Modogashe by a Chinese contractor!” 

A screenshot of the post from Omwamba X Handle

Similarly, Nykundi shared this post on his X handle on November 6, 2023: “Recently constructed road between Garissa and Modogashe by a Chinese contractor.”

A screenshot of the post from Cyprian X’s handle

And later, the post was shared by Rodie on X Handle.

Garissa is a town in East Central Kenya. The town is a market centre situated on the Tana River, and its industries process food, beverages, and tobacco products, among others. The news of the road being destroyed by the rain was shared on these sites here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Latest South Sudan Weather

It should be noted that in the last few days, Juba and most parts of the country have been receiving a little bit more rain than expected generally in November, and this has caused some flash floods, as seen in some local news outlets. 1, 2, and 3.

Conclusion: 

211 Check finds the claim that a picture of a half-washed away road allegedly in South Sudan and, therefore, constructed under a contract between SPLM-IG and the Chinese, false; the road that was flashed off by flooding was a road between Garissa and Modogashe in Kenya.

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.

HOAX: UNICEF is not running this cash promotion in Kenya

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UNICEF Kenya has denounced the promotion.

Writer: PesaCheck

This Facebook post from an account purporting to have received cash from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Foundation is a HOAX.

The post, mostly in Swahili, loosely translates to: “I didn’t think this UNICEF foundation promotion was legitimate. I’m very happy to have received mine today, I’m grateful. I’m also informing my friends to enjoy it too. INBOX ME OR Text this number on WhatsApp (0712266650) starting with the word PROMOTION then follow the instructions given. Thank me later.”

It is accompanied by a screenshot of a text message purportedly from the mobile money service, M-PESA, showing that the user has received KSh85,000 from the UNICEF Foundation.

Similar posts have also been shared here and here.

A review of the account shows similar posts claiming to have received the same amount. Curiously, the funds all seem to have been received at 7:17 a.m. on 22 September 2023.

The posts, using an unofficial communication channel (WhatsApp), are poorly written and are likely online scams, as previously debunked by PesaCheck.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is tasked with safeguarding the rights of children and women in developing countries like Kenya.

Reviewing the official UNICEF Kenya website reveals its support for causes, including education, child protection, emergencies, health, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene. However, there is no indication of the promotion we are debunking.

Likewise, there is no mention of a ‘UNICEF Foundation’ cash promotion on the agency’s Kenya’s Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) account, where they typically share updates.

PesaCheck also reached out to Dan Oloo, a communication specialist at UNICEF Kenya, who denounced the promotion.

“All announcements, advertisements and other official communication is done only via verified UNICEF digital channels as below: Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/UNICEFKenya/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/UNICEFKenya), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/unicef_kenya/) and web: (http://www.unicef.org/kenya),” wrote Oloo in response to our query.

Oloo also cautioned against posts from unverified UNICEF Kenya accounts.

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post from an account purporting to have received cash from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) foundation and found it to be a HOAX.

This post is part of an ongoing series of PesaCheck fact-checks examining content marked as potential misinformation on Facebook and other social media platforms.

Fact-check: Imposter South Sudan Red Cross Facebook page job ad is a hoax

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The South Sudan Red Cross says the job advertisement is fake

Writer: James Bol Bol Duer

A Facebook page impersonating the South Sudan Red Cross falsely claims to be seeking to recruit trustworthy and reliable individuals to work with them for a long-term engagement in bringing social change to society and urging the applicants to apply urgently before 13 November 2023.

The post with a picture was posted on an imposter South Sudan Red Cross Facebook page named “ South Sudan Red-Cross.” on Tuesday, 07 November 2023with an accompanying post and caption that partly read, “Are you interested in joining and working with the NGO community? We are seeking to recruit trustworthy and reliable individuals to work with us for a long-term engagement in bringing social change to the society.” 

“Interested individuals who wish to be considered in these opportunities are invited to apply,” it added.

D:\Fact-checks\Factcheck2\Screenshot_20231108-081730.jpg
Screenshot of the post as published on the imposter’s Facebook page

The imposter page created on 02 November 2023 and posted the false advertisement on 07 November 2023 had 17 likes and 45 followers. The advertisement post also had 100 likes, 51 comments and one share at the time of publishing.

D:\Fact-checks\Factcheck2\Screenshot_20231108-073152_1.jpg

Screenshot of the Transparency page of the Imposter Account

Claim Verification:

A Google reverse image by 211 Check shows that the photo attached to this advertisement is of a briefing to 150 volunteers of the South Sudan Red Cross by the administration of South Sudan Red Cross led by the Secretary-General, John Lobor, before they are deployed to provide First Aid and life-saving services during the visit of the Pope and other religious leaders to South Sudan on 03 February 2023.

In comparison, 211 Check noted significant differences between the two pages. The official Facebook page of the South Sudan Red Cross was created on 07 July 2011, with 37,536 followers and 31,837 likes.

D:\Fact-checks\Factcheck2\Screenshot_20231108-073457_1.jpg
The official South Sudan Red Cross Facebook page 

211 Check also visited the official Facebook Page of the South Sudan Red Cross for a similar advertisement. Fortunately, the administration of the South Sudan Red Cross had made a statement on their official page debunking the advertising as fake. 

Their statement partly reads, ”This document is circulating on social media alleging that we are seeking interested people to join us. This is fake information. If the South Sudan Red Cross has a job opportunity, it follows the formal procedures according to the labour laws of South Sudan.”

C:\Users\DELL\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word\Screenshot_20231108-101748.jpg
Screenshot of the debunk on the South Sudan Red Cross Facebook page

Conclusion:

211 Check concludes that the claim on a Facebook page impersonating the South Sudan Red Cross falsely seeking to recruit trustworthy and reliable individuals to work with them for a long-term engagement in bringing social change to the society and urging unsuspecting applicants to apply urgently before 13 November 2023 is a hoax.

The page was created on 2 November 2023 to solicit applications from unsuspecting job seekers, and this may result in a personal data breach as they collect documents and personal information from the applicants via an attached Google form.

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 +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact check: This photo is not of the Serena Hotel in Kenya

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The image shows a proposed tower in the Swiss Alps, Switzerland.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A picture shared on Facebook on 28 October 2023 purporting to show the Serena Hotel in Kenya is false. 

The image shows a high-rise building and was posted with the caption, “Serena Hotel Kenya.” 

The post attracted several comments with differing opinions, which prompted 211 Check to do an investigation. 

A screenshot from the page 

Claim Verification: 

211 Check carried out a reverse search on the picture using Google Lens, which returned several instances where the image has been shared as a proposed plan for Fluidity 2.0, a high-rise mega luxury hotel and office hybrid tower in the Swiss Alps.

Amazing Architecture says Fluidity 2.0 High-Rise is a 250 M tall tower proposal for the Swiss landscape. The project was prototyped by Mariana Cabugueira Custodio dos Santos, whose Instagram bio states that she is an architectural designer and founder of MC Studios. Cabugueira is an architect and urban designer from Portugal. 

The image was also shared by Architecture and Design Magazine on their Facebook page in January 2022 and was credited to Cabugueira as the person behind the ‘Amazing Concept Design.’ The post adds that the photo shows a proposed plan, not an actual building. 

Similarly, on February 12, 2022, AAs Architecture shared the picture on X(formerly Twitter) accompanying a post that reads: “Fluidity 2.0 by Mariana Cabugueira Custodio dos Santos.

The image has also been shared here, here, here, here, and here, referencing Fluidity 2.0. 

On the other hand, images of Serena Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, from its website show clearly that the image in the post under investigation is not of Serena. 

Screenshot of the Serena Hotel Nairobi, Kenya, from their website

Conclusion:

211 Check found that the post with an image claimed to be Serena Hotel Kenya is misleading. The picture shows a proposed Fluidity 2.0 Mega High-Rise Luxury Hotel and Office Hybrid Tower plan in the Swiss Alps.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with technical support from Code for Africa’s  PesaCheck newsdesk through the African Fact-Checking Alliance (AFCA).

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

Fact-check: “USAID Business Grant” Facebook page is a hoax

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The page was created on 4 November 2023 to solicit applications, which may result in a personal data breach.

Writer: James Bol Bol Duer

A Facebook page called “USAID Business Grant” falsely claiming to call on all eligible organisations, business owners, farmers, women and miners in South Sudan to apply for a funding opportunity under the Investing in Diversified Economy–led Growth Activity is a hoax.

The post with a picture was posted on a USAID Business Grant named Facebook page on 05 November 2023, with an accompanying post and caption that read, 

“ENTERPRISE FUNDING PROGRAM

USAID BUSINESS calls on all eligible organisations, business owners, farmers, women and miners IN South Sudan to apply for a funding opportunity under the Investing in Diversified Economy-led Growth Activity. The goal of this activity is to advance a more inclusive, diversified, and resilient private sector that drives sustainable wealth creation. Submit your applications through http://bit.ly/46GJ6fw “

At the time of publishing, the page created on 04 November 2023 and posted this advertisement on 05 November 2023 had 11 likes and 17 followers.

Screenshot of the post on Facebook

Claim Verification:

211 Check ran a Google Reverse Image Search to verify the claim and found that the picture is of a visit to USAID and WFP–supported projects in Aweil on 17 February 2023, where delegates met with women and children at the Gabat Nutrition site. Michael J. Adler, the US Ambassador to South Sudan, attended that event. Kate Crawford, the USAID Mission Director in South Sudan. H.E. Mrs Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, the vice president of South Sudan and Head of Gender, youth and humanitarian cluster, H.E. Tong Akeen Ngor, Governor of Northern Bahr El- Ghazal State and Mary – -Ellen McGroarty, WFP’s Country Director in South Sudan. In this event, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced a contribution of US $ 288.5 million from the United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to support more than two million of the most food-insecure people in South Sudan with lifesaving food and nutrition assistance through the 2023 lean season.

In comparison, 211 Check visited the actual Facebook page and website of USAID South Sudan for a similar call for application. We discovered that USAID South Sudan is not running such a call for application.

For more detailed information about USAID South Sudan and its specific programs and initiatives, it is recommended to visit the official USAID website or explore the relevant sections on their website.

Conclusion:

211 Check concludes that the claim on the Facebook page USAID Business Grant that is calling for applications from organisations, business owners, farmers, women and miners in South Sudan is a hoax.

The page was recently created to solicit applications, and this may result in a personal data breach as they collect documents and personal information from the applicants via a Google form attached.

A publication under 211 Check’s ‘Fact-check for a pay’ Initiative with Support from the International Fact-checking Network through the BUILD grant.

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