Tag Archive for: #SouthSudan

16 Most Influential South Sudan Celebrities on Facebook

Data Story: 16 Most Influential South Sudanese Celebrities on Facebook

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By David Uku

Because being on social media platforms means you have many competitors, you are expected to create good content for your audience to follow you. In South Sudan, the most influential people and talented artists use Social Media platforms to express their artistic talents and share their opinion with their fans.

However, the challenges of internet access in South Sudan affect content creators’ ability to satisfy their audience in the country. They attract a large audience to their pages and engage in the creation of various content through social media platforms such as Facebook.

From November 2020 to October 2021, 211 Check used the CrowdTangle platform to analyze the 16 Facebook Pages of the most influential South Sudanese Celebrities and their interactions with their fans. The analysis revealed total followers for 11 months, as well as follower growth per page.

The number of followers on a page indicates the audience’s interest in specific pages or people; it also depends on how the post is written (Photo, Video or Live and content created).

The trends of various posts on various platforms in South Sudan are primarily about discussions on influential topics such as promoting national football teams, basketball teams, or music and political news across the country.

About the Authors:

David Uku, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a two-month and half data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualization for two months and half (October to Mid December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information

Reported Killings Across South Sudan - November 2021 (1)

Data Story: Reported Killings in South Sudan, 267 slain last month

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By #defyhatenow South Sudan #DataSpeaks Fellows

Data collected by 211 Check, according to multiple media reports from November of this year, show that at least 267 individuals were killed in several incidents around South Sudan.

In comparison to October, when 79 persons were slain, November’s figures show an increase of 237.97 percent.

The majority of deaths last month happened in Jonglei State, where about 89 individuals were killed by an unknown illness and over 70 others died largely in intercommunal confrontations. 

The following state, Warrap, comes in second with 32 deaths, the most of which were caused by intercommunal violence and road ambushes.

Following that is Western Equatoria State, where 24 people are said to have died last month and Eastern Equatoria State with 18 deaths.

Upper Nile State, Central Equatoria and Unity States each had 14, 12 and 5 deaths respectively.

In Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State there were two reported deaths and 1 killing in Lakes State.

In any of the three administrative areas of Abyei, Ruweng, or Greater Pibor, there were no documented cases of violence-related deaths as well as in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal.

About the Authors:

Data Speaks Fellows at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a two-month and half data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualization for two months and half (October to Mid December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information

Bentiu tv Misleading Image

Fact-Check: Do these pictures show livestock killed by floods in Bentiu? No

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These pictures showing livestock allegedly killed by floods in Bentiu, Unity State are misleading

By 211 Check Editorial Team

Pictures shared by Bentiu tv, a Facebook page with the caption, “This is how flood kills livestock in Bentiu” are FALSE

Reverse image search of the pictures leads to a story published by the Star Kenya two days ago in which raging water as a result of heavy rains at the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania killed livestock in Kenya’s Taita Taveta county.

Conclusion:

The images do not show livestock killed by floods in Bentiu, Unity State. They instead show livestock killed in Taita Taveta county, Kenya.

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

Market Commodity Price Increase

Data Story: Commodity Price Hikes in Juba Ahead of Festivities

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This story focuses on the most recent increase in commodity prices in Juba. The data is based on a physical market survey at Konyo Konyo Market.

By Charles Lotara

The market prices of commodities in South Sudan have been unstable since the outbreak of civil war in 2013 when the South Sudanese Pounds started losing value against the United States Dollars.

In August this year, the prices of basic commodities almost doubled after truck drivers declared strike over rampant insecurity along the Nimule – Juba Highway, the only major route that connects South Sudan to the rest of East African countries.

This phenomenon compelled the government to enforce security measures to curb the runaway level of criminality and banditry along the highway.

In mid-August, truckers trickled in after security assurance from the government. This has resulted in market stabilization. The government through the Ministry of Finance injected more forex into the market, this resulted in an improved exchange rate. But prices never went down thanks to lack of confidence from traders in sloppy regulatory policies.

And, the skyrocketing prices are worsening as the festive season approaches. A first hand assessment reveals that some have doubled their initial price tags within the space of two weeks. A continuity in trend of increase could make basic commodities unaffordable to low-income households.

On Wednesday, 01 December 2021, the Reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly summoned eight institutions to explain circumstances surrounding market price hikes. These were the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Ministry of Roads and Bridges.

Other institutions summoned by the parliament were the National Revenue Authority, the Central Bank, Chamber of Commerce, and the National Bureau of Standards. 

Paul Yoane Bonju, the Chairperson Designate of the Reconstituted Transitional National Assembly blames the government for failure to implement regulations that protect local consumers.

“The prices of commodities in our markets are very, very high these days. Our markets have been dominated by foreigners, and South Sudanese are not in control of their markets,” the Chairperson Designate was quoted by The City Review to have said.

“We are supposed to be a mixed economy rather than a free economy. In a free economy, anybody can come and do anything that he wants, but in a mixed economy, we can control the prices,” added Mr Yoane.

But it is unclear whether the summon of these institutions will drive a positive impact on the market ahead of festivities.

Between late November and the first week of December, a kilogram of lentils was costing SSP 800 up from 600 a few weeks earlier. Our market survey within Juba also reveals that the price of onions has doubled from SSP500 to SSP1000.

By the time of publishing, a liter of cooking was sold at SSP 1000, an increase from SSP 700 two weeks prior. The cost of public transportation also doubled, especially for those staying on the outskirts of Juba. The trend paints a bleak future for the common man.

Leading cause of market price hikes

South Sudan is a landlocked country. The country is one of the biggest importers of commodities. According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), an organization that monitors trends in staple food prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity, cereal supplies in Juba, Torit, Bor, and Rumbek are mostly sourced from Uganda.

Agriculture production remained poor, especially in states and administrative areas ridden by communal conflict and flooding.

About the Authors:

Charles Lotara, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, updated this data story (already in the 211 Check archive), which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a two-month and half data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualization for two months and half (October to Mid December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information 

COVID-19 Vaccine Statistics in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State as of October 2021

Data Story: COVID-19 in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State; Cases and Vaccine Statistics

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Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State had registered 775 COVID-19 cases and 01 death as of October 2021 according to its Health Ministry

By Ngor Deng

Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal is one of the states where the novel coronavirus has been identified. Following the confirmation of a few cases, a COVID-19 isolation center was established at the Light House in Aweil.

According to an announcement by the management of the COVID-19 taskforce in the State, the isolation center was closed in May due to a lack of funding from the government and implementing health organizations.

Because of a lack of financial support, the trained health workers who were providing services abandoned the center, causing the Covid-19 patients and suspects to live in disarray.

What Is The Number Of People Affected?

Between January and October 2021, 775 positive cases were recorded according to the State Coordination office on Covid-19 pandemic hence the number of positive confirmed cases in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state as of October 2021 was 775.

Only 71 patients within the registered or recorded were admitted in the isolation center until they became fully recovered or rescued before it was closed down in May.

A pregnant woman died of COVID-19 in October 2021 while under the care of Medicines Sans Frontières (MSF) at Aweil civil hospital, while four positive COVID-19 cases were officially confirmed at the same time.

Table Showing COVID-19 Cases Statistics in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State as of October 2021

Total Cases Recorded775
Cases Admitted at Isolation Center71
Cases Not Admitted at Isolation Center703
Death Cases1

Vaccination Against Covid-19 Spreads In NBGS-Aweil Government And Health Partners Response

The Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Aweil on June 12, 2021, and vaccinations began immediately. In the first round, 2, 856 people were vaccinated, and the vaccines were finished by August 2021.

The second vaccination was effective from August to October, and 4,581 people were immunized. According to state coordinator for the Expanded Immunization Program Santino Ngong Chan, males accounted for 3,635, while females accounted for 946.

Table Showing COVID-19 Vaccine Statistics in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State as of October 2021

Total Number of People Vaccinated4,581
Male3,635
Female946

Recommendation

Despite numerous requests, medical officials at the COVID 19 taskforce office reiterated calls on the National Ministry of Health and partners to support the isolation center. 

About the Authors:

Ngor Deng, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a two-month and half data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualization for two months and half (October to Mid December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information 

Number of Households Affected By Floods (As of October 2021)

Data Story: Floods, Response and Support in South Sudan – 2021

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Floods displace thousands in six states across South Sudan amid limited supplies, a funding shortfall, and announcement by weathermen that water levels would continue to rise in the coming months.

By David Uku

Data collected by 211 Check according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) indicates how floods affected thousands of people in South Sudan, the response, and support from NGOs during the rainy season.

South Sudan, the world’s newest country and in East Africa, gained independence from Sudan in 2011. It has been through civil war and conflict, as well as devastating floods that have affected six of the current ten states.

On October 8, 2021, the South Sudanese government approved ten million US dollars as an emergency fund for flood-affected populations throughout the country, and Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information, stated in Juba that the relief package approved by the cabinet will be used to help resettle those who have been displaced from their homes, in addition to providing food relief.

“The people who are displaced are very much affected by floods, and after the floods have subsided they need to be resettled in their areas of origin because they don’t have anything at present and all that they need is to be rescued now,” he told the pressed after the weekly cabinet meeting

As of October 2021, the states most affected by flooding are Jonglei, Unity, and Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Upper Nile, Warrap, and Western Equatoria.

Statistics of Floods Affected Population Around the Country:


S/No.
State		Number of Households
Funding 
Gov/NGOs
01Jonglei State 160,000$ 10,000,000South Sudan Government 
02Unity State 146,0001.7 billion OCHA
03Northern Bahr El Ghazal47,00020 million South Sudan Humanitarian Fund
04Upper Nile State  44,000
05Warrap State25,000
06Western Equatoria states.600
UN Agency Estimated Total 
01Report from UNOCHA affected by six States 466,000
02Report from UNRefugee affected by six states 380,000

Response from the and NGOs

OCHA last month warned of limited supplies and a funding shortfall, saying that it had only received 54 per cent of the $1.7 billion (1.4 billion euros) required to pay for programmers in the country.

IGAD weathermen recently announced that water levels would continue to rise in the coming months.

The Humanitarian Coordinator says it will allocate US$20 million from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, and part of the allocation will support flood response efforts.

The Flooding Season

Every year, heavy rainfall from April to October causes the Nile, Pibor, Sobat, Lol, and other rivers to overflow. Inland flooding was caused by the rains, and parts of the country (Jonglei State, Unity State, Northern Bahr Elghazal, Upper Nile State, Warrap State, and Western Equatoria State) were affected.

Conclusion

The government and humanitarian agencies must devise a good system for evacuating people from areas that are affected by floods during the rainy season in the country, because climate predicts that heavy rainfall will occur in the country every year from April to October.

It is too early to tell, but the coming years will be crucial in determining the seriousness of the government and humanitarian organizations in developing a good system for evacuating people from a bad place to a better place.

David Uku, a Data Speaks Fellow at #defyhatenow South Sudan, wrote this data story, which was edited by 211 Check Editor Emmanuel Bida Thomas and approved for publication by Steve Topua, Data Analyst and Trainer. It’s part of the ongoing #defyhatenow South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship program with funding from the European Union Delegation to South Sudan.

About South Sudan Data Speaks Fellowship: 

This is a two-month and half data journalism fellowship for South Sudanese content creators with an aim of educating participants on the fundamentals of data journalism through in-depth training facilitated by experienced data analysts.

The fellows have been selected from across South Sudan and they are trained in data sourcing/mining, data analysis, and data visualization for two months and half (October to Mid December) 

Each fellow will produce a minimum of three (03) data stories during the fellowship. The focus will be on increasing access to information 

false tweet

Fact-Check: This picture does not show a rare creature killed in Rubkona, Unity State

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The image shows a creature that is reported to have been killed in South East Mauritania in July 2020

By 211 Check Editorial Team

A tweet on 25th November 2021 claiming that a rare creature was killed in Rubkona Unity State is FALSE

“I’m very disappointed in the people of Rubkona, Unity State. There was no point killing such a rare creature,” the tweet reads in part.

The tweet also claims that the species of Aardvark was only in South Sudan and that might be the last one. “Sadly dead,” the tweet added.

However, 211 Check investigations have established that the tweet claiming the rare creature was killed in South Sudan is unfounded.

Reverse image results for the image shows several cases in which the same image has been used. The earliest being on 18th July 2020 in the Batha of Al-Nama city in the state of Al-Hawd Al-Sharqi, southeast of Mauritania

According to the activists who circulated the photo at that time, the animal was killed by some citizens in Mauritania.

It should also be noted that according to National Geographic, Aardvarks occur in almost all Africa’s parks and reserves, and not only in South Sudan as claimed in the tweet.

Conclusion:

211 Check has looked into an image purportedly of a rare creature killed in Rubkona, Unity State and finds it to be FALSE

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

FEATURED IMAGE FOR THE LAPTOP SCHEME HOAX211 Check

Fact-Check: Viral Link Asking Students to Apply for Laptop Scheme 2021/22 is a Hoax

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The hoax appears to be aimed at students who do not have laptop computers. While the message is a hoax, the lack of proper access to online learning environments is all too real.

By Emmanuel Bida Thomas

According to 211 Check findings, a viral link being shared on WhatsApp claiming to be asking students to apply for laptop schemes is a hoax. The message that has gone viral on WhatsApp does not specify who is offering the laptop scheme.

The claim in the viral WhatsApp message reads, 

“The Applications for the Students Laptop Scheme 2021/22 Is Available

This scheme is open to all students who for financial reasons are not in a position to purchase a laptop of their own and are in need of laptop in their level of education

Students that can apply

-All Students can apply for the helping laptop support scheme

Eligiblity-All countries

20,000 student recieved laptop in 2020 due to covid

In 2021 Over 560,000 students will be given free laptop to enhance their learning this month

Application has began and students that have applied have started gettig their laptops

ONLY STUDENTS CAN APPLY.” 

The message includes a link to a webpage that makes a similar claim and asks students to enter their age bracket (10-50) years, full name, educational level, laptop brand, and age range.

It also claims that if a person correctly answers the question (5+1-2=?) they will be automatically qualified for the laptop.

The website prompts the user to check their eligibility by asking for their name, pretending to verify their identity, and requesting that the user share the link with WhatsApp friends and groups until “the blue bar is full.” The website redirects the user to a spam advertisement once the step is completed.

Request that the user share the link with WhatsApp friends and groups until “the blue bar is full.”

According to a website reputation checker, the website that was registered 28 days ago on 2021-10-28 and is hosted at this IP address: 209.159.145.116 has been blacklisted by several engines, including Avira, CRDF, and Fortinet.

The message or its website do not specify who is providing the laptops or to whom students are applying. Legitimate schemes usually identify the organizations that are behind them.

Conclusion:

It is not uncommon to receive WhatsApp messages containing links claiming that the recipient has won prizes such as a free expensive smartphone or simply a shoe.

One thing that all of these messages have in common is that they all require the recipient to forward it to at least a certain number of WhatsApp chats. However, the claims that accompany these links can appear genuine and difficult to dismiss, such as when they appear to be disseminating information about schemes and use official institution logos.

The above hoax appears to be aimed at students who do not have laptop computers. While the message is a hoax, the lack of proper access to online learning environments is all too real.

THIS IS NOT JUBA FREEDOM BRIDGE211 Check

Fact-Check: This image is not an aerial view of Freedom Bridge in Juba

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The image is of the Stueng Trang-Kroch Chhmar Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge, a 1,131-meter-long and 13.5-meter-wide bridge spanning across the Mekong River and connecting Kampong Cham and Tboung Khmum provinces in southeastern Cambodia.

By Emmanuel Bida Thomas

A Facebook post on Thursday, 25th November 2021 with an image purportedly of the Freedom Bridge in Juba is FALSE

“South Sudan government unveils the new Freedom Bridge in the Kator-lologo area. The bridge is soon to be open before the end of the year,” reads a post shared by Ramciel Broadcasting, a news and media page with over 18,000 followers.

Misleading Facebook post on Thursday, 25th November 2021 with an image purportedly of the Freedom Bridge in Juba

However, a reverse image search of the photo returned several of the same images used for at least two days. The image is of the Stueng Trang-Kroch Chhmar Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge, a 1,131-meter-long and 13.5-meter-wide bridge spanning across the Mekong River and connecting Kampong Cham and Tboung Khmum provinces in southeastern Cambodia.

The bridge was inaugurated on 23rd November 2021 in the Stueng Trang district of Cambodia.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Bridge, named after the independence of the Republic of South Sudan and being built with a grant from the government of Japan is slated to be opened next year on 6th of July according to the Japanese Resident Engineer Omeda Norio.

Here are latest pictures of Freedom Bridge:

Conclusion:

211 Check has looked into image purportedly of the Freedom Bridge in Juba and finds it to be FALSE

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.

260370917_426395955658036_3316745237288104446_n211 Check

Fact-Check: Images of wounded man not taken from South Sudan

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By Charles Lotara

Disturbing images of a man under intensive care unit are being peddled by social media platforms with claims that the man was found unconscious in part of South Sudan.

False Information Being Peddled on Facebook

On Tuesday evening, Insight Juba, a Facebook page with over 16k followers boldly claimed that the images are those of Deng Wol Deng, a university graduate from Western Bhar-el-Ghazal State who got ambushed along Juba – Nimule Highway.

In another staggering claim, the page says the victim in the images was on his way to Eastern Equatoria to assist a group of physically challenged children when his car was attacked along the road leaving two people dead with one survivor.

With scant details of the incident and with no citation of official sources, the page called on the general public to avoid travelling along the Juba – Nimule Highway and urged security forces to provide protection.

Insight Juba, which was created in 2020, cited 64 Tribes, another Facebook page as the primary source of their story.

However, a quick search through the Facebook page of 64 Tribes in relation to the story returned no result.

There have been no official reports of armed violence along the Juba – Nimule Highway in the last two months.

A geo-location search using Pic2Map returned no EXIF data for obvious reasons. Pic2Map requires unaltered photo files in order to process the data, which is most likely not the case with this image. And, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter strip out EXIF data from uploaded photos, which is true of the images circulating.

But a Google reverse search showed that the incident the man in the picture was caught up in actually happened in Omdurman during the #ParadeNovember2021 when Sudanese took to the streets to register their displeasure with the military plot to bequeath civilian rule.

The situation led to civil unrest with an unconfirmed number of people getting either injured or killed. The images were first posted on 22/11/2021 within 6:47PM by two Twitter accounts all claiming that the man whose identity was not established at the time, was in a critical condition and admitted at Al-Waad Hospital in Omdurman, one of the most populated cities in Sudan.

But both Twitter accounts carry pseudonyms and their bios only imply that they are pro-revolution. However, this does not disqualify the possibility of the images being taken in Sudan as they first appeared on Sudanese-run Twitter platforms.

#FactsMatter, Don’t be a victim of fake news; instead, let’s fight misinformation on both mainstream and alternative media. To avoid spreading false information, don’t share content you’re not sure about or don’t know where it came from.

To learn more about our fact-checking process, go to https://211check.org/how-to-fact-check/ or send us a WhatsApp message at +211 917 298 255 to present a claim, and our team will immediately fact-check it and respond.