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. 

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!” 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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

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.

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.

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

The picture was not taken from Juba. It initially first shared in South Africa.

Writer: Makur Majeng

A Facebook post shared by Juba Media on 27th October 2023 claiming that a picture of a man with burning candles on his head was taken in Juba, South Sudan, is false. 

The post further claimed that a rich girlfriend did that to her poor boyfriend, questioning where the poor man would breathe in South Sudan. “In juba last night, a Rich girlfriend did this to her poor Boyfriend Where will the poor breath from in South Sudan ?” The post reads

The Facebook post shared by Juba Media has generated significant engagement with over 70 likes, 21 comments, and two shares. 

Claim Verification:

211 Check has conducted a Google reverse image search and discovered this claim is false. 

The picture was not taken in Juba and has no relation to South Sudan. The Individual in the picture have no reported connection to Juba.

The picture first appeared online in May 2019. It was reported to have been shared by a Facebook user of a Church in South Africa, according to BestNewsGH, Nairaland, and WithinNigeria blogs. 

The BestNewsGH initially posted the image with the heading, “Church burns candle on member’s head to deliver him from the spirit of homosexuality.” 

While Nairaland and WithinNigeria posted it with the heading “My parents took me to a Church to burn out the spirit of homosexuality – Man cries out” and “Man Cries Out As Church Burns Out The Spirit Of Homosexuality In Style”

Conclusion:

211 Check found the claim shared by Juba media regarding the picture of a man with burning candles on his head being taken in Juba false.

The source of the picture was South Africa, unrelated to South Sudan.

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