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Bill Gates has not p...: Bill Gates has not pledged $2bn to Biafra 'when it becomes a nation' An article shared on Facebook claims US billionaire Bill Gates has pledged US$2.1 billion to support the development of Nigeria's disputed region of Biafra "when it becomes a nation". Biafra, in Nigeria's South East , seceded in 1967. This led to a 30-month civil war that ended t (Source: Africa Check)

Is Zimbabwe's adult...: Is Zimbabwe's adult literacy rate the highest in Africa? Does Zimbabwe have the highest adult literacy rate in Africa? The country's Financial Gazette recently reported as much, claiming that "Zimbabwe leads Africa in having an adult literacy rate of over 90%". In 2013, a blog which aims to "encourage excellence across this amazing con (Source: Africa Check)

Kenyan opposition le...: Kenyan opposition leader Odinga's strange 'church' actually a hotel in Senegal Politics is a dirty game, they say. Kenya's deputy president William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga have been bitter political rivals for some time now. The two often engage in showdowns during public gatherings. One Facebook user uploaded a photo claiming a building sha (Source: Africa Check)

No, SA government di...: No, SA government didn't order power utility Eskom to lay off white workers Facebook users set the fake news flags waving when a 2015 news item resurfaced recently. The article from "conservative-headlines.com" was titled "South African firm ordered to lay off 3,389 white employees". "A South African utility company has been given an ultimatum to reduce  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South Africa's...: Yes, South Africa's student aid scheme waives document certification during Covid-19 crisis People applying for South Africa's National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) won't have to certify the documents they submit during the Covid-19 pandemic, claims a post published on Facebook on 6 August 2020. The post shows a screenshot of what appears to be a tweet by NSFAS. (Source: Africa Check)

False: Don't be conned by 'Hillary Mutyambai' Facebook page impersonating Kenyan police boss A Facebook page under the name " Hillary Mutyambai " has been advertising recruitment drives on Facebook. Hillary Mutyambai is the inspector general of the Kenyan national police service . But this Facebook page is using the top policeman's name to lure unsuspecting users into pa (Source: Africa Check)

No, South Africa's d...: No, South Africa's deputy chief justice Zondo didn't say politician should get Covid-19 vaccine first "They should try the Vaccine at Politicians first cause if we lose a few of Them, it won't really matter at all," reads text above a photo on a graphic posted on Facebook. The photo shows South Africa's deputy chief justice, judge Raymond Zondo , talking and gesturing. The graphi (Source: Africa Check)

No, Dubai's ruler di...: No, Dubai's ruler didn't tweet threat against Kenyan politicians over gold scam Reports of fake and missing gold in the Dubai royal ruler's consignment of the metal transported from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Nairobi have caught Kenyan media by storm. Reports say Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice president and prime minister of the Uni (Source: Africa Check)

Photo of cruise ship...: Photo of cruise ship accident in Italy, not ship capsized by windstorm in Kenya Hours after a strong windstorm swept across parts of Kenya on 1 October 2019, claims about the event made their way online. Kenya's major news outlets reported just one death, of a woman electrocuted in an incident related to the storm. Yet a Facebook user shared a photo on a pop (Source: Africa Check)

Fake Martha Koome Tweet: Kenyan chief justice Koome thanks new president Ruto for making official residence 'a house of prayer'? No, tweet fake IN SHORT: Kenya's supreme court recently upheld William Ruto's August 2022 election as president. But the court's leader, chief justice Martha Koome, didn't thank Ruto for holding a church service at State House. "Thank you @WilliamsRuto for making @StateHouseKenya a good house o (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Koka- kola basa bada kyautar kuɗi ga ƴan Najeriya- ayi hankali da masu damfara Wani saƙo da ke yawo a WhatsApp a Najeriya na iƙirarin cewa koka- kola na bada kyautar kuɗi don bikin murnar cikar kamfanin shekaru 135 da buɗewa. Saƙon wanda ba'a rubuta shi da kyau ba, ya na cewa: " Bikin cikar Koka- Kola shekaru 135! Za ku ci 416464 ₦ kyauta. Na samu nawa." Sa (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence that 40%...: No evidence that 40% of medicines sold in Africa are fake In January 2020 a Twitter user said that he had heard on an international radio station that 40% of medicines sold in Africa are fake. We could not establish the source of this statistic with accuracy, though some have attributed it to the World Health Organization. A study publi (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South Africa sp...: Yes, South Africa spends as much on VIP protection & security as on land reform VIP and security has been allocated R2.9 billion in 2018/2019 The amount set for land reform in same budget is R2.7 billion Experts say important to note that land reform also includes restitution Compensation for land has "never in fact been prioritised in national budgets previ (Source: Africa Check)

Understated: Nigeria's current population is over 195.9 million. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: 45% of [Nigeria's population] are below 15. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: There are more than 100 pupils to every one teacher in Nigerian schools. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: The Unesco benchmark is 35 students per teacher. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: The budgetary allocation for education in 2020 was N671.07 billion. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: The education budget constituted 6.7% of the total annual budget. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: The N671.07 billion allocated to the federal ministry of education included the statutory transfer for the Universal Basic Education Commission, which was N111.79 billion. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Most of the states could not draw from this fund as they could not match the funding. Two of Utomi's claims hit the bull's eye – about 42% of Nigeria's population is younger than 15 and he was right that most states struggle to draw from the Universal Basic Education Commission's fund in order to improve education standards. But for the most part his numbers misse (Source: Africa Check)

No, photo isn't of Y...: No, photo isn't of Yorubas burning Igbo property in Nigeria - it's a 2017 protest in South Africa Two days after Nigeria's presidential and national assembly elections on 23 February 2019, a Facebook user posted a photo of fires billowing smoke on a road barricaded with rocks. "HAPPENING NOW!" he wrote. "Yoruba people led by MC Oluomo are burning Igbos properties and barred I (Source: Africa Check)

Snake-woman attackin...: Snake-woman attacking Facebook flirt? No, scene from Tanzanian movie A widely shared photo of a half-woman, half-snake creature on top of a man in a grassy field warns men about flirting on Facebook. The caption, in Kiswahili, reads : "Hii ni fundisho tosha kwa wanaume mnaopenda kutongoza tongoza kila wanamke hapa Facebook: huyo jamaa kilicho mtok (Source: Africa Check)

'Legit Job Posts' Fa...: 'Legit Job Posts' Facebook page … not legit The Facebook page " Legit Job Posts " offers jobs at several South African companies – First National Bank , Coca-Cola , Mr Price and Pep clothing and more. Applicants stand to earn salaries between R6,000 and R13,000 a month and need few to no qualifications to apply. Each post  (Source: Africa Check)

Shops: 'Big business': Do 1 in 3 South African women buy skin bleaching creams? A documentary investigating skin bleaching in South Africa said one in three women buy the creams. The statistic came from a study that surveyed 579 women in two Durban hospitals. But it didn't represent the whole country. A wider analysis found the prevalence of skin lightening  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Image of Kenyan politician Linet Toto with deputy president's son altered IN SHORT : The image seems to show Bomet county politician Linet Toto with Kevin Rigathi, the son of Kenyan deputy president Rigathi Gachagua. It's been posted with suggestions that the two are a couple, but the image has been altered. In the original, Toto is alone. An image tha (Source: Africa Check)

Bill Gates didn't ti...: Bill Gates didn't tip $5 because he's 'the son of a wood cutter' - his parents are a lawyer and teacher Did Microsoft founder and US billionaire Bill Gates tip a waiter only $5 because he's the son of a wood cutter? That's the claim in a meme shared in South Africa, which shows a photo of Gates next to a photo of his daughter, Phoebe Adele Gates . (Disclosure: The Bill and Melinda  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, bandits didn't attack Federal University, Gusau campus, in northwest Nigeria "Just In: Bandits attack Federal University, Gusau," read multiple messages on Facebook and Twitter on 4 March 2021. The university is a public institution in Gusau in Zamfara state, northwestern Nigeria. Zamfara state has been at the centre of Nigeria's bandit crisis . In late F (Source: Africa Check)

Ruto Giveaway: Kenyan deputy president Ruto handing out money to election supporters? No, Facebook page bogus William Ruto , the deputy president of Kenya, is giving cash to his supporters to promote his 2022 election campaign, according to posts on the Facebook page " Deputy Samoei Williams Ruto ". The country is set to hold general elections in August. "Have you ever received my promot (Source: Africa Check)

False: Kenyan soldiers arresting bandits? No, photo from Nigeria IN SHORT : Kenya is grappling with banditry in its Rift Valley region, prompting the army to be called in. But a photo circulating on social media with the claim it shows Kenyan soldiers already making a difference was taken in Nigeria. Kenya's security forces are struggling to c (Source: Africa Check)

Fake news! Kenya's e...: Fake news! Kenya's education loans board not arresting defaulters Kenya's former education cabinet secretary Amina Mohamed announced on 20 February 2019 that the police would help the Higher Education Loans Board track down some 74,000 loan defaulters. This, she said, would allow the board to recover over KSh7 billion in unpaid loans and intere (Source: Africa Check)

No system error in S...: No system error in South Africa's NSFAS student funding scheme – no need for beneficiaries to reapply A screenshot of a Facebook post circulating online in November 2020 claims that NSFAS beneficiaries need to re-register their profiles and reapply for 2021 funding due to a system error. NSFAS, the government's National Student Financial Aid Scheme , helps fund the after-school e (Source: Africa Check)

No, South African ed...: No, South African education minister didn't say 'whites forced education down our throats' A meme doing the rounds on Facebook in November 2020 quotes South Africa's minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga , as saying: "Whites forced education down our throats, it's actually not our thing." It has been shared hundreds of times. Is there any truth to it? Traced to  (Source: Africa Check)

False: 'There will be no World Cup to talk about'? No evidence Putin threatened 2022 Fifa event after Russia's suspension Russian president Vladimir Putin has threatened the 2022 Fifa World Cup, according to a graphic circulating on Facebook in several African countries since early March 2022. It quotes Putin as saying: "Russia will play at the Qatar 2022 FIFA world cup or there will be no world cup (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, US president Biden didn't tweet that Kenyan deputy president Ruto just 'a tourist' in US – screenshot fake In early March 2022 Kenyan media outlets reported that the country's deputy president William Ruto visited the White House , the official residence and workplace of the US president in Washington DC, to meet senior US government officials. This drew mixed reactions, with some dis (Source: Africa Check)

SA president slips u...: SA president slips up: $13.4 BILLION invested in renewables, not $14 MILLION Rolling black-outs in 2008 and the need to tackle the country's large carbon footprint have compelled South Africa to prioritise renewable energy. Starting in 2011, the country invited independent power producers to sell electricity to the country's power supplier, Eskom . South  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South Sudan fir...: Yes, South Sudan first vice president Machar tested positive for Covid-19 Riek Machar Teny , first vice president of South Sudan, has tested positive for the Covid-19 coronavirus disease, claims an article on the blog Nile Spear TV . It says Angelina Teny, the country's defence minister and Machar's wife, has also tested positive, along with "a number  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Ten thousand US troops set to invade South Africa? No, around 50 soldiers in country for joint military exercise Has the United States sent 10,000 troops to invade South Africa? The claim started circulating online in mid-July 2022. Most versions use what seems to be a screenshot of a news clip showing a US air force plane. The text "10,000 TROOPS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE OVER NEXT TWO WEEKS" run (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "Our economy has lost R300-billion since 2008 because, without a stable electricity supply, manufacturers cannot produce, investors are driven away and jobs are lost." In his response to the State of the Nation Address , Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane made a number of claims about electricity, employment, land reform and crime. Here are the claims that readers asked us to investigate. Electricity Claim "Our economy has l (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Despite all his past promises, what President Zuma failed to tell us last week was that, today, there are 1.6-million more South Africans without jobs than when he took office in 2009." In his response to the State of the Nation Address , Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane made a number of claims about electricity, employment, land reform and crime. Here are the claims that readers asked us to investigate. Electricity Claim "Our economy has l (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The 17.5 million hectares of fertile soil in communal land areas must be unlocked for reform purposes. State-owned land must be fully audited and used to fast-track redistribution to deserving beneficiaries." In his response to the State of the Nation Address , Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane made a number of claims about electricity, employment, land reform and crime. Here are the claims that readers asked us to investigate. Electricity Claim "Our economy has l (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "But while our communities are being over-run by drug lords the President said nothing about crime! Where are the specialised anti-drug units? Drug crime has doubled since they were taken away." In his response to the State of the Nation Address , Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane made a number of claims about electricity, employment, land reform and crime. Here are the claims that readers asked us to investigate. Electricity Claim "Our economy has l (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence Nigerian...: No evidence Nigerian president Buhari ordered arrest of former president Obasanjo On 29 July 2019 news website Naija Live TV reported that Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari had ordered the immediate arrest of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. The report has been shared several times on Facebook. It reads : "The yet-to-be-confirmed arrest is said to be in c (Source: Africa Check)

False: Not an elephant-shaped mountain in Oregon, US – image photoshopped by artist An image of what seems to be an elephant-shaped mountain is doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa with the claim it is in Oregon , a state in the Pacific northwest region of the western United States. "Elephant Mountain in Oregon.. ❤ 🌸," the caption reads. Africa Check has (Source: Africa Check)

No, posting @[4:0] w...: No, posting @[4:0] won't show if Facebook account hacked A recent Facebook post claims that commenting "@[4:0]" on the social media site will show you if your Facebook account has been hacked. It gives these instructions: "Simply type @ [4:0] in the comment box and don't give space, if it shows 'Mark Zuckerberg' it means your account i (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, computer-generated image of sunset from space not snapped by International Space Agency An image in a screenshot circulating on Facebook in South Africa and Nigeria shows a small bright globe hanging above a planet that appears to be Earth. "This is what the sunset on earth looks like from space," its caption reads . The image is credited to Nasa and the ISS. Nasa i (Source: Africa Check)

False: Angry Dutch farmers steal Netherlands government jet? No, photo shows plane towed in DRC A photo circulating on social media in July 2022, including in South Africa , shows a man in a tractor towing a jet aircraft out of a hangar. It's being posted with the same caption : "Private jet used primarily by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other officials stolen from g (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's electoral body hasn't declared Aisha Dahiru the winner of the Adamawa governorship election IN SHORT: The race for governor of Nigeria's northeastern state of Adamawa has had its twists and turns. But it did not produce the country's first female governor. The 18 March 2023 governorship election in Nigeria's Adamawa state was a tight race between the incumbent, Ahmadu F (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenyan deputy presidential candidate Gachagua didn't congratulate police officer for disrupting political meeting – quote fabricated A graphic circulating on Facebook in early July 2022 attributes a quote to Rigathi Gachagua, the running mate to Kenyan deputy president and presidential hopeful William Ruto. In the graphic, Gachagua appears to congratulate a police officer for disrupting a political gathering b (Source: Africa Check)

Is Africa the drunk...: Is Africa the drunk continent? How Time Magazine ignored the data Is Africa the drunk continent? Time magazine said it is. "Africa has a drinking problem", an article from 2013 on its website claimed, and "is in no shape to cope with an influx of alcohol". Furthermore, it warned, "alcoholism is on the rise as beverage multinationals circle". Bu (Source: Africa Check)

No, there are not 26...: No, there are not 26 million migrants in South Africa A post shared on Twitter claims there are over 26 million migrants living in South Africa. It lists, among other nationalities, "8 million Zimbabweans … 2 million Mozambique … 3 million … Malawi [and] 500,000 Lesotho". It also claims there are "1.5 million Pakistan" and "1 millio (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: No, Kenyan actor Ronald Ndubi not offering promotions on Facebook, beware of imposter account IN SHORT: Another day, another fake Facebook page, this time in the name of popular Kenyan actor Ronald Ndubi. Ignore sham posts by this account. The Facebook page Victor Hausa has been running promotions on a Facebook group in Kenya with over 235,000 members. The account uses th (Source: Africa Check)

600,000 homeless peo...: 600,000 homeless people on the streets of Johannesburg and Pretoria? Why this claim is flawed Homeless Solutions' claim is not based on evidence, but on what a representative told Africa Check was "experience and observation". The figure is inconsistent with various estimates and a recent attempt to count all street-homeless people in the City of Tshwane (Pretoria). Accur (Source: Africa Check)

Article overplays we...: Article overplays weight of new report into cell phone mast cancer worries Ever since cell phone masts started to go up around the world at the end of the last century, people have worried that the radiation the masts transmit might have harmful effects on those who live or work nearby. Radiation is present everywhere as part of the natural world but st (Source: Africa Check)

No, David Cameron -...: No, David Cameron - Nigeria is not one of the 'two most corrupt countries' in the world Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron speaking in May 2015 to Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo: AFP/Leon Neal British Prime Minister David Cameron's remarks to Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday about corruption in Nigeria and Afghanistan were certainly embarrassing but were t (Source: Africa Check)

False: Ɗan takarar shugaban ƙasar Najeriya Tinubu bai ce zai miƙa mulki ga 'ɗan ƙabilar Igbo ba' Wani saƙo a Facebook na iƙirarin cewa Bola Tinubu, ɗan takarar shugaban ƙasa daga jam'iyyar All Progressive Congress(APC) a zaɓen Najeriya na shekarar 2023, ya ce zai miƙa mulki ga ɗan ƙabilar Igbo bayan ya gama wa'adin shekaru takwas yana shugabancin ƙasar. "Zan miƙa mulki ga ɗa (Source: Africa Check)

No, photos don't sho...: No, photos don't show André Gomes horror injury during Everton, Spurs football match In an English Premier League football match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur on 13 November 2019, Everton midfielder André Gomes suffered a fractured dislocation of his right ankle during a tackle by Spurs player Son Heung-min. Soon after, two photos were posted on Facebook  (Source: Africa Check)

Do a third of SA wom...: Do a third of SA women have a baby by 19? More than a third of South African women become mothers by the age of 19, a KwaZulu-Natal health department official claimed recently. "...[T]he department remains concerned by the high rate of teenage pregnancy, with more than a third of South African women giving birth by the a (Source: Africa Check)

False: Are you at risk of catching leptospirosis when drinking from a tin can? No, ignore false warning IN SHORT: The claim that dried mouse urine found on tin cans could infect people with leptospira has resurfaced on Facebook. But the bacteria that causes the infectious disease can't survive on dry surfaces. A Facebook post circulating in March 2023 in South Africa warns readers  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South African c...: Yes, South African cabin crew arrested for smuggling drugs into Hong Kong On 2 October 2019 an article with the headline "SAA flight attendants arrested in Hong Kong on drug trafficking charges" was published on the South African news site News24 . It claimed two South African Airways (SAA) flight attendants had been arrested for smuggling drugs worth  (Source: Africa Check)

No, dexamethasone no...: No, dexamethasone not a Covid-19 vaccine, no evidence it causes infertility "I'm warning you all: If you going to take the [n]ew 'drug' which is said to be R150 please be careful, and don't fall trap onto a setup on being infertile," reads a message posted on Facebook on 18 June 2020. The post includes a screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by David Ic (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, South African former public protector Thuli Madonsela did not write racially charged Facebook post "I  can only ask the Black population … what happened???" begins a long quote published on Facebook on 15 July 2021 . It is credited to law professor and former South African public protector Thuli Madonsela . "Yes this criminal government has turned all its people from providers (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigerian soldiers surrendered to Boko Haram in Abuja " Breaking News. The Nigerian Army surrendered their Arms to BOKOHARAM Bandits in Abuja, War is coming ooooo, Talibans are coming ," reads a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria in August 2021. Boko Haram is an Islamist movement and designated terrorist group whose violent activ (Source: Africa Check)

Fake ad offers firef...: Fake ad offers firefighting jobs to youth 'without experience or matric' An advert posted on the scam Facebook page " Jobs learnership and bursary " claims to have firefighting jobs available for young people "without experience or matric". The ad tells job-seekers to comment on the post, giving their location, "to be sent an application form". It giv (Source: Africa Check)

Mix of moringa and l...: Mix of moringa and lemons won't cure elephantiasis A Facebook post shared in Nigeria claims a mixture of lemons and the leaf, bark and roots of the moringa tree is a remedy for elephantiasis. It shows a photo of people with badly swollen legs – a sign of the disease . The post uses the scientific name for the moringa, Moringa ole (Source: Africa Check)

Ugandan journalist M...: Ugandan journalist Moses Bwayo injured, but only one viral photo shows him A series of three photos shared on Facebook show an apparently injured man lying on the ground, a bloodied camera, and a man with a cut on his cheek. They were posted with the claim they show Ugandan video journalist and filmmaker Moses Bwayo . Their caption reads: " Ugandan jour (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Canada not offering free housing with migrant visas "Canadian government job recruitment 2022," reads the headline of a message circulating on WhatsApp in Nigeria. The message was also posted on some Facebook pages . It includes an application link for people interested in migrating to Canada and says applicants must be older than (Source: Africa Check)

Send meme 'or you'll...: Send meme 'or you'll wake up like this'? Ignore threatening share scares on Facebook A terrifying meme is doing the rounds on Facebook in African countries. It shows a crying red-eyed man who seems to have had his mouth, thick with blood, ripped from side to side and then sewn shut with safety pins. The meme has been shared almost 5,000 times. Why? Because it thr (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: 'Azimio ya majambazi, wezi sugu'? Ignore photoshopped front page of Kenyan daily newspaper An image posted on Facebook appears to be the front page of Kenyan Kiswahili-language daily, Taifa Leo , with a headline calling the country's top politicians robbers and thieves. The headline reads : "Azimio ya majambazi, wezi sugu." This loosely translates to "a vision of robbe (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Kenya's Migori county passed Building Bridges Initiative bill to amend constitution In February 2021, 24 Kenyan county assemblies approved a bill to amend the country's constitution in line with recommendations by the Building Bridges Initiative . The BBI is a national unity and reform drive spearheaded by president Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odi (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence of offic...: No evidence of official Dangote cement 'sale' A Facebook page titled " Dangote Cement PLC " claims the multinational Nigeria-based cement manufacturer is selling its products at discounted prices. The page's 16 February 2020 post says the "Dangote Cement Factory" is selling cement at a "promotional factory price" of N1,300 p (Source: Africa Check)

False: Smelly white discharge? See your doctor, don't use this herbal remedy The Facebook page "Dr Jones Medical Solutions" claims that a mixture of neem leaves, ginger, turmeric and water treats vaginal infections with a "smelly white discharge". Neem, also called nim or margosa, is a tree in the mahogany family . It is thought to be indigenous to Asia a (Source: Africa Check)

False: 'Be careful in showing attitudes to men'? No, there aren't 5.6 billion women in the world to just 2.2 billion men A graphic posted on Facebook in September 2021 warns why "ladies, both the married and singles" have to "rethink before treating any man like trash". It claims that United Nations data shows that out of a global population of 7.8 billion people, 5.6 billion are "women" and just 2 (Source: Africa Check)

Anti-fascists 'orche...: Anti-fascists 'orchestrated' US Capitol siege? No, photos of right-wing Trump supporter "Some folks pointing out that the storming of the #Capitol may have largely been orchestrated by #ANTIFA types, and they're sharing evidence to back their claims," reads a message posted on Facebook in South Africa. It appeared on 6 January 2021, the day thousands of people viole (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, graphic showing...: Yes, graphic showing vaccination status of Covid patients at South Africa's Groote Schuur hospital is authentic A graphic labelled "Total number of patients with Covid-19 at Groote Schuur Hospital" has gone viral on Twitter in South Africa. Groote Schuur is a government-funded teaching hospital in Cape Town, in the Western Cape province. The graphic claims that on 6 September 2021, the hos (Source: Africa Check)

Puma shirts photosho...: Puma shirts photoshopped in '#FeesMustFall' image Free education protests at South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg culminated yesterday with a bus set alight , a priest shot with a rubber bullet and a clothing and footwear shop looted. Looters stole goods from a Puma shop in Braamfontein after the (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Uganda's Daily Monitor didn't publish photo, story on 'leaks' about activists Nyanjura and Rukirabashaija "NEW COUPLE IN TOWN," reads a headline on the lower half of what seems to be the front page of the 8 February 2022 edition of Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper, posted on Facebook. Next the headline is a photo of Ugandan activists Doreen Nyanjura and Kakwenza Rukirabashaija in a l (Source: Africa Check)

Scaminsert: 'Download App, Sign Up and Get Rewarded'? No! Beware new Facebook post editing scam IN SHORT : An innocent but interesting message is posted on a Facebook community page. It's about a lost child or dog, or a serial killer, or a bear attack. But as soon as it's shared enough, it's edited – replaced with an offer that could drain your bank account or steal your id (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, vaccines won't make you 'seedless' "If they can make fruit seedless, they can make YOU seedless too," reads a graphic doing the rounds on Facebook . It shows photos of seedless melons above a photo of a hand in a surgical glove holding a syringe. It's clearly a vague and unsubstantiated warning against Covid vacci (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenyan politician Musyoka issues list of demands to presidential candidate Odinga? No, graphic fake A graphic circulating on Facebook lists a series of demands Kalonzo Musyoka, leader of Kenya's Wiper Democratic Movement , has supposedly made to presidential candidate Raila Odinga. It shows a photo of Musyoka and the logo of TV channel KTN News Kenya , and reads: Wiper leader K (Source: Africa Check)

Do 8,300 super-rich...: Do 8,300 super-rich Kenyans own more than the rest? In highlighting inequality as a priority for Kenya's growth, Chatham House said 8,300 Kenyans owned more wealth than the rest of the population. The figure comes from a proprietary report by private consultancy New World Wealth. Without information on the consultancy's methods, i (Source: Africa Check)

False: Funny but fanciful – little evidence for origin of the F word and the middle finger "Well, now … here's something I never knew before," begins a Facebook post copied and shared in various forms thousands of times. It supposedly describes the origin of the middle-finger hand gesture and, by implication, the insult "fuck you". Supposedly, both originated at the 14 (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The matric pass rate increased from 60.6 percent in 2009 to 75.1 percent last year." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "There are currently almost one million students who are enrolled in higher education, up from 500,000 in 1994." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative programme continues to deliver modern facilities to our schools... with at least 187 schools being completed to date. " New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Our state employs some one million public servants." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Poverty levels rose in 2015" New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Since the start of the current parliament, our public employment programmes have created more than 3.2 million work opportunities." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Today we have nearly one million children who are participating in early childhood development facilities. " New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "More than 17 million social grants are paid each month" New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Government's free basic services programme currently supports more than 3.5 million indigent households." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Mining fatalities are rising New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Agriculture has made the largest contribution… to the improved growth of our economy in the second and third quarters of 2017." New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Tourism currently sustains 700,000 direct jobs" New South African president Cyril Ramaphosa was afforded calm and plenty of cheers as he delivered his first state of the nation address . Did he seize the moment? Africa Check wasted little time in putting his claims under the microscope. Claim "The matric pass rate increased fr (Source: Africa Check)

South African promis...: South African promise tracker: 1 out of 7 for the African National Congress Africa Check's Promise Tracker keeps tabs on election commitments by ruling parties in South Africa , Kenya and Nigeria . South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress , won 57.5% of the vote in the 2019 national election. We tracked seven promises it made five years (Source: Africa Check)

False: Rain stopped photo session with Kenyan MPs and Tanzania's president – politician Mwaura not 'whisked away' for photobombing Politician Isaac Mwaura was "whisked away by security agents" for "spoiling" a photo session with "women leaders" and Tanzania's president Samia Suluhu at Kenya's parliament, claims a message posted on Facebook on 5 May 2021. The post shows a screengrab of live news coverage of p (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Coca-Cola Kenya looking for 'serious individuals' to hire? No, job ads are scam IN SHORT: Beware, Coca-Cola Kenya doesn't advertise jobs through random Facebook posts or ask applicants to apply via WhatsApp. "COCA COLA COMPANY looking for serious individuals who can work as supervisors, storekeepers, loaders and off loaders, manufacturers, suppliers, cleaner (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor didn't post job ad for 'St Mary's Schools and Colleges' An ad posted in a public Facebook group announces that "St Mary's Schools and Colleges" in Uganda are hiring. The ad appears to be from the Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor – it's in the form of a poster, with the logo of the newspaper and the date 14 January 2022 across the top.  (Source: Africa Check)

'Ignore it.' Faceboo...: 'Ignore it.' Facebook ad for jobs at South Africa's transport department 'is a scam' A fake job advert published on Facebook by known scam page "Jobs learnership and bursary" claims South Africa's transport department is seeking road workers "to start work urgently". The ad, posted on 16 June 2019, says people with grade 10 to 12 qualifications will take up the " (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, US mission to N...: Yes, US mission to Nigeria congratulated Ogbuagu for contribution to Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine "Nigerians contribute to the world in so many ways," reads a screenshot of what seems to be a tweet posted on Facebook on 23 November 2020. "Our hats off to Dr Onyema Ogbuagbu at Yale who helped develop a COVID-19 vaccine!" The tweet appears to be from the account US Mission Nige (Source: Africa Check)

Gwamnatin Najeriya b...: Gwamnatin Najeriya bata bada 'tallafi' ga masu sana'oi da ƙananan ƴan kasuwa Wani saƙo dake yawo a Facebook da WhatsApp a Najeriya na cewa ana cigaba da cike takardar neman "tallafin" gwamnatin tarayya na ƙanana da matsakaitan sana'oi (MSME). "Ana cigaba da shirin tallafin Gwamnatin tarayya ga ƙanana da matsakaitan sana'oi a Najeriya," saƙon ya ce. Saƙon  (Source: Africa Check)

All Progressives Con...: All Progressives Congress rep didn't spend N10 million on small wooden bridge in Nigeria "Sometimes I feel like Nigeria was made for stand up comedies," says a Facebook post published by Nigeria Politics Today on 24 January 2019. The post shows an unidentified man cutting a ribbon to open a small and rickety wooden bridge over a muddy stream. It exclaims: "JUST IN: A (Source: Africa Check)

S. Africa does not h...: S. Africa does not have the largest private security industry in the world In a Mail & Guardian article Ernst Roets, deputy chief executive of Afrikaner civil society organisation AfriForum, has claimed that "the private security industry in South Africa is the largest in the world". He did not provide a source for this claim. Given that many South Afri (Source: Africa Check)

Do three WhatsApp ti...: Do three WhatsApp tick marks mean you're being watched? No, it's a hoax A message doing the rounds on WhatsApp claims three tick marks on a sent message means a government agency has read your chat and may take action against you. It was shared widely among Nigerians shortly after the country's information minister, Lai Mohammed, declared on 28 Octob (Source: Africa Check)

Ban on lipstick was...: Ban on lipstick was attempted in 1650, not 1770 – but didn't pass Was lipstick banned in 1770, because of its supposed power to seduce men into marriage, as a meme on Facebook says? "Fun fact: In 1770, British parliament banned lipstick, saying it had the power to seduce men into marriage, which was classified as witchcraft," the meme reads. Bu (Source: Africa Check)

Careful: Spar South...: Careful: Spar South Africa does not advertise jobs on Facebook A Facebook post shared on 7 November 2019 claims the supermarket chain Spar has a number of jobs available in South Africa over the 2019 holiday season. The post looks like an advert and lists "Available Positions" next to a photo of a woman in a Spar-branded uniform. In the desc (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya High School Scores: No, 70% of Kenya's high school students don't score D+ or lower Manyasa's claim was correct for 2017 and in 2018 the percentage of students getting a D+ or lower in the exams only decreased to 68%. But by 2020 this had dropped to 55%, though the majority of Kenyan students only score slightly better, getting a C- or lower. Educationists cauti (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence nine Nig...: No evidence nine Nigerian kids kidnapped to convert them to Christianity " Breaking news! Igbo herdsmen kidnapped Hausa Fulani children from Kano, converted to Christianity and sold them for slavery in Anambra!," announces a 13 October 2019 Facebook post. "CAN is not saying anything about it, Nigerians consider if it were to be Muslims that committed  (Source: Africa Check)

Do only 14% of South...: Do only 14% of South Africans read books? "Do you know that reading statistics show that only 14% of South Africans are readers of books?" South Africa's basic education minister said in a video promoting reading last year. Angie Motshekga has cited the statistic a number of times over the years. In some cases, she has p (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Ruto's running mate accused of murder? No, Kenyan newspaper front page photoshopped Kenyan deputy president William Ruto announced on 15 May 2022 that he had picked Mathira constituency MP Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate for the 9 August presidential elections. Days later, what seemed to be the front page of the Star newspaper's 19 May issue started circula (Source: Africa Check)

No, you don't have t...: No, you don't have to 'isolate' for two weeks after Covid jab to protect others from 'vaccine shedding' Nobody tells you that, to protect others, you have to isolate yourself for two weeks after getting the Covid-19 jab. At least, that's the claim on a graphic posted on Facebook in South Africa. "As jy ingeënt is teen covid 19 is jy veronderstel om v 2 weke te issoleer om ander te  (Source: Africa Check)

No, former South Afr...: No, former South African president Jacob Zuma has not condemned 'persecution' of Shepherd Bushiri A November 2020 Facebook post claims that former South African president Jacob Zuma has condemned the "treatment and persecution" of the Christian preacher, Shepherd Bushiri. Bushiri, whose church is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, is wanted by the South African governme (Source: Africa Check)

Photo of woman playi...: Photo of woman playing solitaire while people queue not from South Africa For many South Africans, long queues are often associated with the department of home affairs, the country's interior ministry. The government department responsible for verifying the status of citizens and other people living in South Africa is known for being very busy. A photo (Source: Africa Check)

Beware! Facebook pag...: Beware! Facebook page offering cash from Kenyan senator run by imposter A post on the Facebook page " Senator Gideon Moi " claims the senator is "giving out KSh15,000 to all Kenyan citizens to help them at this difficult season". Moi is the senator for Baringo County . "In order to get this help, kindly inbox me your M-Pesa number in order to serve y (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Uganda's police didn't threaten to arrest people who don't watch NBS TV What seems to be a screenshot of a Facebook post by the Uganda Police Force has itself been shared on Facebook. "Police to arrest all citizens who have television but don't want to watch NBS TV!" it reads . "There is information reaching our desk that a lot of propaganda is circu (Source: Africa Check)

Fakerecruitment: Kira akan sanarwar ɗaukan ma'aikatan wucin gadi na INEC da ke yawo ta bogi ce A TAƘAICE: Duk da cewa saƙonni na cigaba da yaɗuwa a kafafen sada zumunta a Najeriya, hukumar zaɓe ba ta ɗaukar ma'aikatan wucin gadi don aikin babban zaɓen 2023. "An tabbatar: Inec zata ɗauki ma'aikatan wucin gadi guda miliyan 1.4," cewar wani saƙo da aka saka a Facebook a ranar (Source: Africa Check)

Peter: Ministan yaɗa labaran Najeriya Mohammed bai ce ɗan takarar shugaban ƙasa Obi na da hannu a cikin rikicin #EndSARS ba Ministan yaɗa labaran Najeriya Lai Mohammed ya tuhumi ɗan takarar shugaban ƙasa daga jam'iyyar Labour Peter Obi da cewa shi ne "wanda ya haddasa" rikicin #EndSARS , cewar wasu saƙonni da ke yawo a Facebook tun watan Yuli 2022 . "Wasu abubuwan da suka faru a kwana-kwanan nan sun b (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigerian preside...: No, Nigerian president Buhari's sister older than him A report claiming that Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari has an 84-year-old "younger sister" has been shared over 11,000 times on Facebook . Published in December 2019, the headline of the article is "Buhari's younger sister celebrates 84th Birthday as Buhari clocked 77". The  (Source: Africa Check)

Canada begs Kenya fo...: Canada begs Kenya for a million immigrants? No, this is false In late April 2019 several Kenyan blogs published the same story using the same photo and same headline: "Canada's prime minister begs Kenya president for one million immigrants". On CBTV , Diaspora Messenger , African Stand and Mass-Com Kenya , the story claims Canadian Prime Mi (Source: Africa Check)

Can marijuana cure m...: Can marijuana cure measles? No evidence for Kenyan claim Kenyan parents are flocking to have their children treated for measles by a group of women who make use of marijuana. The women, based in Kisumu, reportedly blow marijuana smoke into the face and ears of children as young as 2 years old, according to the Sunday Standard . They al (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, private Covid-1...: Yes, private Covid-19 tests now allowed in Lagos, Nigeria – at a price People living in Lagos , a Nigerian state that includes its major city, can buy a Covid-19 test at a private laboratory for N50,400 – about US$130 . That's according to several news reports posted on Facebook . " Lagos state governor through his commissioner for health has announ (Source: Africa Check)

Recent study finds g...: Recent study finds goats perceive good and bad emotions from the bleats of others "How could anyone listen to her screams and not care that she's hurting and terrified? This is what cashmere production looks like, and if Madewell has a heart they'll ban it!" So reads a Facebook post by Peta , People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, from 6 August 2019. The (Source: Africa Check)

Chilling video of pa...: Chilling video of passengers rescued from flooded van NOT from #NairobiRains In the video, a white van is marooned in a gully, about to be completely overrun by flood water. Bystanders throw out ropes to its terrified passengers, as they haul them to safety one by one. It is a heart-stopping moment, as you desperately will each passenger to successfully c (Source: Africa Check)

A Sugar Cane Worker Gets Tested For Hiv By A Health Worker Working With Medecins Sans Frontieres In November 2014 On The Outskirt Of Eshowe In Kwazulu-Natal Photo: Afp/Gianluigi Guercia: Yes, South Africa has the world's largest antiretroviral therapy programme South Africa's president , health minister and cabinet have all boasted about it – South Africa's antiretroviral therapy programme is the "world's largest". If true, it's a spectacular about-turn from just over a decade ago when NGOs like the Treatment Action Campaign went to cou (Source: Africa Check)

Cyclone Jobo hitting...: Cyclone Jobo hitting Tanzanian coast in 2021? No, video of cyclone Kenneth making landfall in Mozambique in 2019 From 23 April 2021, local and international media reported that tropical cyclone Jobo was set to make landfall in Tanzania on 25 April. This was confirmed in a tweet by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority , which said the storm was expected to cause heavy rains and damage acros (Source: Africa Check)

Is South Africa the...: Is South Africa the largest recipient of asylum-seekers worldwide? Does South Africa currently receive the "highest annual number of asylum applications worldwide"? It is a claim that was picked up and repeated, often verbatim, by various media outlets. For example, an SABC television interview with Home Affairs minister Naledi Pandor prior to W (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenyan deputy president Ruto and son in love triangle? No, Nairobian front page fake "FAMILY AFFAIR: RUTO, SON NICK EATING FROM THE SAME POT. " That's the front page headline of what seems to be an April 2022 edition of  the Nairobian, a Kenyan newspaper, circulating on Facebook. The page shows a photo of  Kenyan deputy president William Ruto and his son Nick Rut (Source: Africa Check)

Correct? Nigeria's K...: Correct? Nigeria's Kogi state had no working fire engine when I took over - governor During a meeting with Nigeria's top firefighting official, the governor of Kogi state said that before he took office in January 2016 , the territory did not have a functional fire engine. Yahaya Bello's claim was also tweeted by his official handle, which used a picture of two f (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Beware, Kenyans! Siaya governor candidate Nicholas Gumbo didn't say the county will only have democracy if presidential candidate Raila Odinga quits A graphic posted on Facebook in Kenya quotes Nicholas Gumbo as saying there will only be democracy in the country's Siaya county after Raila Odinga retires. Odinga is the presidential candidate for the Azimio la Umoja coalition. It is pitted against deputy president William Ruto' (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigerian businessman Obinna Iyiegbu didn't take photo with financial crimes commission staff " EFCC staff struggle to have selfie with Obi Cubana," reads a post shared on Facebook on 3 December 2021. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , or EFCC, is a Nigerian law enforcement agency that investigates financial crimes. The photo shows Obinna Iyiegbu with a group  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No plans for government hospitals to give free 'DNA tests', in either South Africa or Nigeria "DNA tests will be done freely at government clinics and hospitals as of June 2022." That's the claim made in a number of Facebook and Twitter posts shared in South Africa . The phrase "DNA test" could mean any of a broad range of possible tests, from the expensive sequencing of  (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Website advertising jobs at TotalEnergies is just another scam IN SHORT : The oil and gas company TotalEnergies only advertises jobs on its official website and its verified Facebook and Twitter pages – not on an amateur-looking site that asks for personal information. An amateur-looking website offering jobs at TotalEnergies , a multination (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, zobo drink won't cure fever – go to hospital instead A message posted on Facebook claims a local herbal drink "cures fever". "H ow to make medicinal zobo drink, " it begins. It describes the drink as an infusion of zobo leaves, pineapple, lemongrass, lemon, ginger, beetroot, orange, watermelon and water. Zobo is a Nigerian drink ma (Source: Africa Check)

False: Uganda cult massacre victims? No, photo of an oil tanker explosion in the Democratic Republic of the Congo IN SHORT : A graphic image of several charred bodies is being shared on social media in Kenya, with the claim it shows a sectarian massacre in Uganda in 2000. While the incident did take place, this photo is unrelated. Warning: This article links to content with graphic and upset (Source: Africa Check)

False: Social media posts about Marburg virus outbreak in Nigeria false A Twitter post claims there has been a Marburg virus outbreak in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. The claim has also been made on several Facebook pages, including here , here and here . Marburg is a rare but severe illness that is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and is often fata (Source: Africa Check)

No 'transparent crea...: No 'transparent creatures' in tap water – but boiling water first is still good advice A meme going around Facebook in Nigeria shows photos of transparent fish-like creatures with the warning: "Be careful before drinking tap water." It says : "These are transparent creatures found in water. Be careful if you are drinking tap or stream water without boiling it. "Alw (Source: Africa Check)

Pax herbal remedy no...: Pax herbal remedy not approved as Covid-19 treatment, says Nigeria's drug control agency Nigeria's food and drug control agency has approved a certain herbal mix as a treatment for Covid-19, claims a message circulating widely on Facebook since 10 July 2020 . "NAFDAC approves PAX Herbal Remedy for Covid-19," it begins . Nafdac is Nigeria's National Agency for Food an (Source: Africa Check)

Pfalse: Nigeria's electoral commission has extended voter registration – but by 31 days, not 60 days "The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has agreed to extend the ongoing Continuous Voters' Registration (CVR) exercise by 60 days," begins a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria on 22 June 2022. "Registration was initially slated to end in June 30, 2022, but calls (Source: Africa Check)

Tanzania's health mi...: Tanzania's health minister announced she had Covid-19? No, tweet is fake A Facebook post shows what seems to be a tweet by Tanzania's health minister , Ummy Mwalimu, announcing she has tested positive for Covid-19. It reads : "Ni Bahati mbaya kuwa nimejaribu kipimo cha ugonjwa wa coronavirus. Lakini nitaendelea kulitumikia taifa langu kwa mbali kana k (Source: Africa Check)

False: Ignore herbalist advice – no evidence bananas cure cancer or HIV Can eating and using various parts of the banana plant protect you against cancer, diabetes, HIV and a multitude of other afflictions? Those are the claims made by a herbalist in a video watched over 82,000 times on Facebook. The video is captioned "Bananas is very good treatment (Source: Africa Check)

South Africa's 2015/...: South Africa's 2015/16 crime statistics - read our factsheet The South African police released their statistics on the number of crimes recorded in the 2015/16 reporting year, running from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, on 2 September in parliament . The police released the crime statistics as absolute numbers – that being how many crimes  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, monkeypox is not 'vaccine-acquired Aids' – 'Vaids' is not real "Monkeypox is VAIDS. Look at the pics below," begins a Facebook post published on 22 May 2022. The post includes three photos showing people with lesions on their skin. The caption says : "1st - Pic is monkeypox in Africa, 2nd - Pic is AIDS, 3rd - Pic is what the first person thi (Source: Africa Check)

False: Relax! Viral video of student confessing – on live TV – to cheating in Kenya's national exams just a TikTok joke IN SHORT : Just days after the school-leaving Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam results were released, a video that seemed to show a top-performing student blatantly admitting to cheating went viral. But it's just a joke created for TikTok, and not meant to be taken s (Source: Africa Check)

Apply for jobs on of...: Apply for jobs on official site only, warns supermarket chain Shoprite Social media has become an important stop for job seekers as information is easily and quickly shared. But so are fake job adverts. In 2018 people looking for work were asked to pay money to apply for jobs as census enumerators and supervisors at the Kenya National Bureau of Stat (Source: Africa Check)

Nike workers don't e...: Nike workers don't earn 20 cents an hour or work 80 hours a week Factory workers for the shoe and apparel company Nike make just 20 US cents an hour and work up to 80 hours a week, claims a meme shared on Facebook in South Africa. It shows women working an assembly line covered with rows of Nike shoes. The text reads : "These factory workers ( (Source: Africa Check)

No, Kenyan standards...: No, Kenyan standards bureau statement on contaminated food is fake On 24 May 2020, residents of Gikambura in Kikuyu, near the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, fell ill after eating donated food. The source of the contamination remains unclear. Following the incident , a statement supposedly by the Kenya Bureau of Standards , or KEBS, has been making t (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "[The] department and the Free State have not been getting the right kinds of allocations as per the national formula of the equitable share." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "Immunisation coverage [for children] under one year improved from 86.8% in 2013-2014 to 91.2% in 2014-2015." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "[In 2014-2015] coverage for the rotavirus vaccine exceeded the 95% target and the pneumococcal vaccine reached 91.5%." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "Pneumonia incidence decreased from 89 per 1 000 of the under-five population in 2012-2013 to 84.7 in 2013-2014." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The tuberculosis (TB) new client success rate improved from 79.7% to 83.3% and the TB cure rate from 73% to 77.1%." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "All multidrug-resistant TB confirmed patients have been initiated on treatment." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "HIV counselling and testing is implemented in all health facilities, public places and gatherings. A total of 109 047 people have been tested for HIV so far in the 2014-2015 financial year." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "[The] prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV improved from 1.8% in 2013-2014 to 0.09% in the first quarter of 2014-2015." When doctors working in Free State government hospitals went public with a damning whistle-blower's account in February, the provincial government's spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, responded by saying that the province's health system was "not collapsing". In a statement issued by M (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Ugandan president Museveni didn't tweet announcement of his brother's death IN SHORT : Social media may have declared him dead but Salim Saleh, the brother of Uganda's long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni, is very much alive and has been seen at his daughter's wedding. A screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni announcin (Source: Africa Check)

No, Kisumu Male Sex...: No, Kisumu Male Sex Workers Association did not say Kenya's deputy president 'supports our hustle' A fuzzy photo posted on Facebook in late September 2020 shows five men holding up a banner. The banner reads : "Male sex workers organization advocating for the rights of male sex workers from western Kenya region." Much clearer text at the bottom right adds : "Ruto supports our  (Source: Africa Check)

Smallest bird in the...: Smallest bird in the world? It's hand-cut paper art A photo shared on Facebook in South Africa shows what seems to be an impossibly small bird sitting on a twig held between someone's fingers. Users marvelled at the size of the bird - but is it real? Created by artists in India The caption reads: "God our creator, God! This is the (Source: Africa Check)

No, more than two pe...: No, more than two people know Coca-Cola's secret formula A post shared on the Group Kenya Facebook page claims "there are only two people alive who know the recipe of Coca-Cola … and they aren't allowed to travel on the same plane, in case it crashes". And a video ad from 2014 claims each of the two people who know Coke's secret formul (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, uniquely marked...: Yes, uniquely marked zebra from Maasai Mara, Kenya An eye-catching graphic , shared on Facebook, shows an oddly marked zebra foal apparently spotted by a photographer in Kenya. "Rare Zebra foal with polka-dot markings is seen in Maasai Mara by Photographer Antony Tira," it reads. The Maasai Mara is a wildlife reserve in southwest (Source: Africa Check)

No, Uganda's police...: No, Uganda's police didn't defend health minister for not wearing mask A Facebook post circulating in Uganda claims police defended the country's health minister, Jane Ruth Aceng , for not wearing a face mask in public. This was after video footage was shared on social media showing Aceng at a public gathering, maskless, and not maintaining physical (Source: Africa Check)

Fake Owino Fb Post: No, Kenyan MP Owino didn't accuse fellow ODM politician Jalang'o of being a 'mole' – Facebook screenshot fake A screenshot of what seems to be a Facebook post by Kenyan opposition politician Babu Owino has been going viral since early April 2022. It accuses former comedian and radio personality Felix Odiwour, known as Jalang'o, of working for a rival party . Owino is a member of the Oran (Source: Africa Check)

Iconic football play...: Iconic football player Pele is not dead "Pele Brazilian football legend dies at 78 in Paris hospital," declares an April 2019 article on the Weekly Observer . The three-sentence story claims the famous footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele , died at a Paris hospital at the age of 78 after succ (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, video doesn't show Kenyan police officers beating two men during a cost-of-living protest in March 2023. IN SHORT: Kenyan social media has been flooded with videos of police brutality following opposition leader Raila Odinga's call for mass action on 20 March 2023. But one video circulating on Twitter is an old one, not taken during the 20 March protest. A video shared on Twitter sh (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Kenya's opposition ODM party hasn't fired secretary general Sifuna "#DevelopingStory," begins a message posted on Facebook in Kenya on 10 April 2021. "Edwin Sifuna sacked as ODM PARTY Secretary General." Posted on a group with nearly 60,000 members, the message claims Kenya's opposition Orange Democratic Movement party has fired secretary genera (Source: Africa Check)

More than 90% of SA...: More than 90% of SA households believe tap water is safe to drink A screenshot of the infographic published on the MailOnline. Click to enlarge. Is drinking tap water in South Africa "risky business"? The United Kingdom's MailOnline claimed so this week in an article on where it was safe to drink tap water around the world . According to an inf (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Steaming with Zam-Buk and onions in your socks won't cure Covid-19 A Facebook post shared more than 7,500 times claims Zam-Buk ointment and putting onions in your socks will cure Covid-19. "Sit water op stoof met Zambuk in en stoom 4 keer n dag en smeer die bors en rug en onder die voete met Zambuk," it says in Afrikaans. This means: "Put water  (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Free airtime and data from Nigerian musician Davido? No, it's a scam Nigerian music star Davido is giving away airtime and internet data to celebrate his birthday, claims a message circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook . "As a way of celebrating his birthday and giving back to the street from the donations, Davido is giving out free 5k airtime and  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence chair of Nigeria's governing party threatened to withhold public funds to secure votes IN SHORT: While the All Progressives Congress hopes to be re-elected in February 2023, there is no evidence the party has threatened to withhold public funds until it is sure Nigerians will vote for it. "We will not release any money to the public till we are sure that Nigerians  (Source: Africa Check)

No announcement from...: No announcement from Nigeria's Covid-19 presidential task force of imminent 'total lockdown' "Second Wave of Covid-19, total Lockdown is imminent," reads the headline of a Facebook post shared in Nigeria. A similar post says: "Another lockdown looming, Dr Aliyu, chairman presidential task force on Covid-19 speaks" The posts, published mid-January 2021, claim the Nigerian (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigeria's Benue state governor said he withheld workers' pay over holidays to stop them getting drunk IN SHORT : As Nigeria's elections near, politicians continue to be falsely quoted. One jarring statement attributed to governor Samuel Ortom is false. "I didn't pay salaries because it is not good to be drunk on Christmas day," reads a quote attributed to Samuel Ortom , the gover (Source: Africa Check)

Alcohol Confiscated From Illegal Bars Stored In A Police Warehouse In Alrode, Outside Johannesburg Photo Afp/Stephane De Sakutin: A year in review: truth and lies in 2013 Over the past twelve months Africa Check has investigated the accuracy of a wide range of claims by public figures and institutions. Our aim is to raise levels of debate, correct misleading claims, point out errors of fact and, most importantly, to encourage accuracy. We have pic (Source: Africa Check)

Food distribution du...: Food distribution during Rwanda's coronavirus lockdown? No, photo from Ramadan in the Gambia A photo of hundreds of neat piles of bedding and food set out on a dusty stretch of ground was shared on Facebook in Kenya on 30 March 2020. "#Happening now...Rwanda as a country providing food for its citizens. Meanwhile hapa Kenya ni mambo na 4G network wash your hands. Stay-at (Source: Africa Check)

No, Boko Haram not p...: No, Boko Haram not poisoning cows in northern Nigeria with cowpox – old, debunked rumour A screenshot of a Facebook post reshared on the social media platform claims the Nigerian government is warning citizens not to eat beef from the north of the country for fear of contracting cowpox. The original post says the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram , has poisoned 80, (Source: Africa Check)

False: Photo of 'peeling' road from South Africa, not Nigeria's Imo state " Uzodinma detachable road construction. Ndi Imo ndo nu. We shall overcome fraudsters ," says a post shared on Facebook in Nigeria. The sentence in Igbo, "Ndi Imo ndo nu", translates to sympathising with the people of Imo state in southern Nigeria. The post , published on 10 Dece (Source: Africa Check)

No, Kenya's Siaya co...: No, Kenya's Siaya county governor not building KSh2bn 'White House' Governor Cornel Rasanga of  Kenya's Siaya county is building a palatial KSh2 billion residence modelled on the US White House – in the midst of the Covid-19 emergency. That's according to a screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by the governor, circulating on social media in ear (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, governor of Nig...: Yes, governor of Nigeria's Rivers state ordered demolition of hotels for violating Covid-19 lockdown Governor Nyesom Wike of Nigeria's River state has ordered two hotels to be demolished for continuing to operate during the coronavirus lockdown. That's according to several Facebook posts that have been flagged as possibly false by the social network's fact-checking system. But t (Source: Africa Check)

False: Gift of the Givers warns of fake Durban food relief message after #ShutdownSA looting Food shortages have been reported in parts of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng since widespread protests and looting gripped the two provinces for almost a week in mid-July 2021. The unrest began after former president Jacob Zuma handed himself over to police on 8 July, t (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photos of design concept, not actual school in Malawi Images of an impressive-looking structure, apparently constructed out of wood and straw bales, are circulating on Facebook , with the claim they are photos of  a secondary school in the southeast African country of Malawi. The caption to the photos says the school was "designed b (Source: Africa Check)

Scam alert! No evide...: Scam alert! No evidence Amazon is recruiting agents across Nigeria A recent Facebook post claims that the US multinational tech company Amazon is recruiting agents in all 36 states of Nigeria. "Amazon agents are urgently needed in each state of the federation," it reads . "Your work for home and get daily earning of 1K to get 10K. No qualificati (Source: Africa Check)

Oby Ezekwesili bata...: Oby Ezekwesili bata ce sace yan matan Chibok da fafutukar #AdawoManadaƳanmatanmu' shirya su' aka yi don taimakawa Buhari ya kada Jonathan a zaɓen 2015 Dr Oby Ezekwesili , fitacciyar malama kuma yar siyasa wadda ta riƙe babban aiki a babban bankin duniya da hukumar fayyace gaskiya ta ƙasa da ƙasa, ta ce garkuwa da yan matan makarantar Chibok guda 276 da Boko Haram sukayi a shekarar 2014- da kuma kamfen na #AdawoMamanaDaƳanmatanm (Source: Africa Check)

No, storm Dineo is '...: No, storm Dineo is 'not expected to affect Gauteng' - SA weather service A "storm warning" message has been circulating on WhatsApp, claiming that "the department of meteorology in South Africa has issued a statement confirming the storm (Dineo) will be hitting South Africa, Johannesburg and Jhb south as of tonight". It further described potential dam (Source: Africa Check)

No, photo doesn't sh...: No, photo doesn't show Schwarzenegger sleeping under his statue after being turned away from hotel A photo of Hollywood actor and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger "sleeping in the street" next to a bronze statue of himself has been making the rounds on social media in Kenya and South Africa . Shared 74 times and attracting 195 comments on a Kenyan Facebook grou (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, top cop Munga Nyale not been appointed new boss of Kenya's DCI police unit IN SHORT: A number of posts on social media in Kenya claim top cop Munga Nyale has replaced George Kinoti as director of criminal investigations. Kinoti resigned following William Ruto becoming president, but he has been replaced by Amin Mohamed Ibrahim, not Nyale. A Facebook pos (Source: Africa Check)

Covid-19 and groceri...: Covid-19 and groceries: what advice should you take? Social media is awash with advice on how to protect yourself from Covid-19 . A voice note doing the rounds on Whatsapp is encouraging people to disinfect their groceries before packing them away. "You don't know who has been handling the products, it could be an infected person," (Source: Africa Check)

False: Ignore fake ad: Kenya's electoral commission not hiring short-term voter educators A job advert posted on a public Facebook group with nearly 40,000 members claims that Kenya's electoral commission is hiring temporary voter educators for wards. It says the jobs will be part of a voter education campaign to boost voter registration from 4 October to 2 November 2 (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Beware scam job adverts from Facebook account 'Wawira Nicholas' The Facebook account " Wawira Nicholas " regularly posts fake job ads on Kenyan Facebook groups in an attempt to scam the unemployed. Its latest scam is a graphic that claims there are jobs available at the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). Posted in a group with more than 400,000 me (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: Chef Jamie Oliver claimed McDonald's beef 'unfit for human consumption' – but did not win legal battle with company "McDonald's loses legal battle with chef Jamie Oliver, who proved that the food they sell is not suitable for ingestion, because it's highly toxic," begins a Facebook post published on 11 May 2021. The post claims British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver forced fast food outlet McDona (Source: Africa Check)

Claim that Jonathan...: Claim that Jonathan left Nigeria with 7 trillion naira deficit does not add up Did the government of Nigeria's former president, Goodluck Jonathan, leave the newly elected administration facing a 7 trillion naira (USD$35 billion) deficit in 2015? Nigeria's newspapers were awash with headlines such as " Jonathan left N7 trillion deficit, says Joda " a few we (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, putting garlic in your vagina overnight won't cure candidiasis "Natural remedy for candida and vaginal odour," reads a post on Facebook in Nigeria. It shows a photo of a clove of garlic with pieces of string attached to it. "Insert in the vagina overnight and remove in the morning, dispose of the garlic clove. Insert the same way you insert  (Source: Africa Check)

Scam! Carrefour Keny...: Scam! Carrefour Kenya exposes fraudulent job ad on Facebook A post on the Facebook page "Carrefour-Kenya" claims the supermarket chain has 500 jobs available – for a fee. "ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL KENYANS ON CARREFOUR JOB VACANCIES," it reads . "Due to the explosive emergence of carrefour supermarkets in urban and near-urban areas in nairobi,  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, murder suspect Dejywan Floyd not the younger brother of murder victim George Floyd IN SHORT : A false rumour about George Floyd, a black man murdered by a white police officer in the USA, has reached South Africa. As other fact-checkers have found, a man with the same surname arrested for a random road-rage killing is not Floyd's younger brother. "George Floyd' (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Nigerian senat...: Scam: Nigerian senator not giving out money, cars, houses Has Dino Melaye, a former Nigerian senator and politician, promised to give needy Nigerians money, food and houses? In a Facebook post from 17 July 2020 he appears to. The post reads: "Hello everyone MY NAME IS DINO MELAYE DUE TO THIS CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK I WANT TO HELP THE FIRS (Source: Africa Check)

False: Photo of starving woman from the 1984 famine in Ethiopia, unrelated to ongoing conflict in Tigray region A Facebook user shared a photo of an emaciated woman with the claim it showed a dying mother in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia. International media have reported that over 350,000 people face catastrophic conditions in Tigray, according to United Nations (UN) agencies. Th (Source: Africa Check)

Half a million abort...: Half a million abortions in Kenya every year, despite ban? Yes – and decade-old estimate still relevant Starting a discussion about legalising abortion in Kenya, radio presenter Maji Maji claimed there were 500,000 abortions across the country. The figure is for 2012, and comes from a study by the African Population and Health Research Center. It's the most recent reliable data on  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Emaciated victims of Kenyan starvation 'cult'? No, photo from Uganda IN SHORT : In a shocking story that has attracted international attention, the bodies of several members of a reclusive church have been exhumed in Kenya. But one photo making the rounds on social media is not of the survivors. In April 2023 Kenya was gripped by the gruesome stor (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Kenyan politician Ole Kiyiapi didn't accuse president-elect Ruto of 'becoming a dictator' A graphic doing the rounds on Facebook quotes Kenyan politician and academic James Ole Kiyiapi as saying that president-elect William Ruto is starting to act like a dictator. "There are signs that William Ruto is already becoming a dictator," the quote reads. "Since he was declar (Source: Africa Check)

Falsemarch2020Kenyagazette: No, Monday, 20 March 2023 not a public holiday in Kenya to allow for protests, as fabricated gazette notice claims IN SHORT: Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for mass action on 20 March. But claims on social media that the day is a public holiday are not backed up by any evidence. Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has called for mass action on 20 March 2023. The opposition (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, study predicts...: Yes, study predicts smartphones to outstrip other information tech for carbon footprint "Children must give up mobile phones," urges a Facebook meme headed "climate emergency" and which shows a group of young people standing behind Greta Thunberg , the 16 year old global climate change activist. To support this call, it focuses on the carbon footprint of communicati (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Nigeria's Lagos state, is not dead A message posted on Facebook in June 2021 claims that Nigerian politician Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state , is dead. The 16 June 2021 post reads: "Bola Ahmed Tinubu is dead. Latest news, confirm it by yourself." The post includes a photo of Tinubu. He was Lago (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigerian preside...: No, Nigerian president receiving captured flag from army chief – not 'launching terror flag' A screenshot posted on Facebook on 6 June 2019 claims Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari "launched a terror flag". It shows an image of Buhari and an unidentified man in military uniform holding a black flag with Arabic script above drawings of a book and two assault rifles. Th (Source: Africa Check)

Covid-19 not caused...: Covid-19 not caused by bacteria, aspirin not a cure "In Italy, the coronavirus remedy was finally found," reads a message circulating on Facebook since 20 May 2020. It claims that Covid-19 is caused by a bacterium, not a virus, and can be treated with the common drug aspirin. Several versions of the message are doing the rounds ,  (Source: Africa Check)

No, SA does not weig...: No, SA does not weigh in as the world's 3rd most obese nation Highlighting politician Julius Malema's behaviour as worth emulating - his eating habits, that is - a member of the South African food lab 's advisory board encouraged South Africans to follow a healthy diet. Writing in the Sunday Times, Tatjana von Bormann argued that South Afri (Source: Africa Check)

SA's serial murder &...: SA's serial murder & rape 'ranking' not supported by data Claim similar to a 2006 report which only referred to serial murder Definitions of crimes vary from country to country, hampering comparison International databases usually compiled from media reports South Africa's last forensic psychologist has resigned from the police, leaving (Source: Africa Check)

False: 'Uhuru finally congratulates Ruto'? No, video from 2019 shows former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta congratulating athlete IN SHORT : Kenyans have been posting a short video clip on social media, claiming it shows former president Uhuru Kenyatta congratulating his successor William Ruto. But the video is from 2019 and has nothing to do with 2022 election politics. On 4 September 2022, as Kenyans wait (Source: Africa Check)

World TB deaths shoo...: World TB deaths shoot up - on paper You might be forgiven for thinking we are losing ground in the battle against tuberculosis after reading a recent statement from the medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders . "The World Health Organization's annual look at the global state of tuberculosis this y (Source: Africa Check)

Statistic that a chi...: Statistic that a child goes missing every 5 hours in SA incorrect Does a child go missing every 5 hours in South Africa? Various South African media houses, including True Love magazine , EWN and the SABC , have reported this statistic over the last year. In one of the latest instances, Times LIVE used the figure in a story's headline: "A child (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's Lagos state governor didn't invite Igbos to dinner to get their votes IN SHORT: Politicians in Nigeria might still be scrambling to win votes ahead of the 11 March elections for governor, but there's no evidence the governor of Lagos state is holding special dinners for "Igbo captains of industry" to curry favour. What looks like an invitation from (Source: Africa Check)

Faketweet: No evidence Ugandan military man Muhoozi Kainerugaba tweeted about critic Kakwenza Rukirabashaija's arrest Following the arrest and reported torture of Ugandan novelist and government critic Kakwenza Rukirabashaija on 28 December 2021, a screenshot of a sinister tweet was posted on Facebook. The tweet appears to be from Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba . Kainerugaba is the son of Ugandan pr (Source: Africa Check)

'Burning man' photo...: 'Burning man' photo from 2008 – not 2019 – xenophobic violence in South Africa In September 2019, xenophobic unrest flared up in parts of South Africa's Gauteng province . But a number of videos and pictures circulating online, supposedly showing the violence, are unrelated to the events. Nigerian rapper Skales (real name Raoul John Njeng-Njeng) took to Twi (Source: Africa Check)

South Africa's first...: South Africa's first coronavirus patient now has no symptoms, but not 'cured' "South Africa records It's first successful cure of Coronavirus patient," claims the headline of an article linked to a Facebook post . The post includes a screenshot of the story, published on the site iHarare on 9 March 2020. Is this true? Covid-19 cases in South Africa rising  (Source: Africa Check)

SA's current listeri...: SA's current listeriosis outbreak worst worldwide - on record UPDATE: As of 2 March 2018, 948 people have been diagnosed with listeriosis and 180 died. Closeup of a listeriosis strain taken in May 2010 in France. Photo: AFP/MYCHELE DANIAU In South Africa, 67 people have died so far and hundreds more have been infected with a foodborne disea (Source: Africa Check)

The elephant in the...: The elephant in the tweet: SA talk show host gets obesity stat wrong Shock jock Gareth Cliff recently took aim at South African women, branding them the "fattest women in the world". The talk show host's tweet - which included an elephant emoji - has been shared over 500 times and liked by over 700 people. South African women are the fattest women (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, more fires were...: Yes, more fires were burning in central Africa when Amazon rainforest made headlines An article published by the Independent , a UK newspaper, on 27 August 2019 claimed that while "focus has slowly grown on the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, it has emerged an even greater number of fires are currently burning in central Africa". The article has b (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, South African university not for 'whites only' "Whites Only University in South Africa is proving to be a success" reads a post shared several times on Facebook , with a link to an article with the same headline. The headline is misleading – the university referred to in the article is real, but it's not a "whites only" unive (Source: Africa Check)

Many countries facin...: Many countries facing Covid-19 '2nd wave', but not all advice in viral message true "The Covid-19 2nd wave is happening!" warns a message posted on the South African Facebook page "Public Servant PE Appreciation Squad", which has nearly 13,000 followers. It also claims that "Nelson Mandela Bay is the hot spot in South Africa". PE is short for Port Elizabeth , a  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, South Africa's Sunday Times didn't publish homophobic article by prominent journalist McKaiser IN SHORT : Eusebius McKaiser, who is gay, didn't warn of the "danger" of men hiding their sexual orientation. And he didn't expose supposedly straight South African politicians as gay. The fake screenshot shows a headline that was never published. Screenshots on social media show (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: At independence, Nigeria had a population of 45 million President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Nigeria's urban population at independence was approximately 7 million President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: 'Today, we grapple with multiple challenges with a population exceeding 200 million.' President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: 52% of Nigeria's current population lives in urban areas President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: 'For a cumulative 29 of our 60 years of existence as a nation, we have been under military rule.' President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: There has been a 60% drop in government revenue President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: There was a 40% drop in oil prices President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: 'It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.' President Muhammadu Buhari's independence day speech included claims about Nigeria's historical and current population, the legacy of military rule, reduced government revenue and oil prices in other countries. His claims about the country's population at independence and today a (Source: Africa Check)

False: 'Mass exodus from Ruto'? Star newspaper headline fake An image of what looks like a front page of the Star , a Kenyan daily, with the headline "Mass exodus from Ruto" was posted on Facebook in March 2021. Underneath the headline is a brief summary : "Hints of betrayal as Mt. Kenya Tanga Tanga MPS in Kirinyaga, Nakuru and Nyandarua p (Source: Africa Check)

False: Beware of Facebook page impersonating Kenyan politician David Murathe IN SHORT: A page in the name of the former Jubilee Party vice-chairperson has been posting wild insults on Facebook, of anyone from the Kenyan deputy president to international athletes. But it's merely impersonating David Murathe and should be ignored. The Facebook page Hon.Davi (Source: Africa Check)

Gauteng doesn't have...: Gauteng doesn't have SA's highest murder rate - it's the Eastern Cape South Africa's Gauteng province has the "highest murder rate" in the country, Destiny Man reported this week based on copy from the African News Agency . This followed the release of South Africa's annual crime statistics . However, this statement is incorrect and is based on a m (Source: Africa Check)

Slain Biafrans? No,...: Slain Biafrans? No, photo of kidnappers killed by Nigerian police in 2017 A photo posted on Facebook shows six nearly naked men lying on the ground, seemingly dead. A crowd of people stands around them. "These are SLAIN BIAFRANS. Their crime? Peaceful protest of a referendum, Nigeria is worse than a shithole," text above the photo reads . The photo was (Source: Africa Check)

False: Sexwale says former South African president Zuma 'not going to jail'? No, tweets from now-suspended parody account On 29 June 2021 the Constitutional Court , South Africa's highest court, sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. The court found him guilty for defying its order to appear at a commission of inquiry into corruption during his presidency (Source: Africa Check)

Headlines saying 96%...: Headlines saying 96% of Nigerians have received Covid-19 jabs are misleading The headline of an article on Latest Nigerian News , an online news aggregation website, claims Nigeria's federal government has administered the first Covid-19 vaccine dose to 96% of Nigerians. The May 2021 report continues to circulate online . The same headline was spotted on  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, Kenyan Cabinet...: Yes, Kenyan Cabinet nominee wants voluntary national health insurance payments to become mandatory Mutahi Kagwe, a nominee for the health docket in Kenya's Cabinet, is seeking to reform the country's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) "to make it mandatory for all Kenyans to make contributions to the fund". That's the claim in a Facebook post flagged as potentially false by (Source: Africa Check)

Europeans fleeing to...: Europeans fleeing to North Africa during second world war? No, photos of Albanian mass exodus to Italy in 1991 Photos of thousands of people massed on a dock and the ship alongside it have been making rounds on social media, with observations on migration. A Facebook page with 84,000 followers posted one in black and white with the caption: "These aren't Syrians. They're Europeans trying  (Source: Africa Check)

Photo shows indigeno...: Photo shows indigenous people in DRC listening to recording of their music – not 'Kenyans hearing music from speaker for first time' A black and white photo posted on Facebook shows a group of people standing around and staring intently at a large wooden box. "Back in 1932, when our people in one of Kenyan's villages first heard music from a speaker," one caption to the photo reads. Another caption is similar: (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Egyptian footballer Mo Salah endorsed Nigerian presidential candidate Obi? No, image photoshopped Professional Egyptian footballer Mohamed "Mo" Salah has come out in support of Nigeria's Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi . That's the rumour in messages circulating on Facebook in August 2022. The messages show a picture of Salah , his back to the camera. On his jer (Source: Africa Check)

No, Uganda's deputy...: No, Uganda's deputy police spokesperson didn't announce resignation on Twitter A screenshot of a tweet posted on Facebook announces that Polly Namaye , Uganda's deputy police spokesperson, is resigning in response to the deadly 18 November 2020 clashes between police and opposition supporters. The violence followed the arrest of opposition presidential cand (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Rigathi tortured Matiba's widow? No, Kenya's Daily Nation front page fabricated "Matiba's widow: Rigathi tortured me," reads the headline on what appears to be a front page of Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper, circulating on Facebook. The page shows a photo of a woman in a wheelchair and is dated 10 June 2022. A summary adds : "Speaking for the first time sinc (Source: Africa Check)

False: A minimum of KSh1,500 for prayers? Don't be conned by another Facebook page impersonating popular Kenyan pastor Ezekiel Odero IN SHORT: The profile and photos of popular evangelist Ezekiel Odero is frequently used by scammers on social media to try to extract money from his followers. So be aware: this Facebook page is another impersonation and should be ignored. The Facebook page Evangelist Ezekiel ask (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: No 'convincing evidence' that rooibos tea treats allergies in humans A Facebook pos t claims that rooibos tea can treat allergies as it is a "natural antihistamine". Antihistamines are a type of medicine used to treat the symptoms of allergies, including congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itching and skin rashes. Is this claim supported by research (Source: Africa Check)

Partlyfalse: No, drinking water on empty stomach after waking up won't treat or prevent asthma or heart disease A Facebook video viewed more than 4.5 million times gives several "natural" health tips, each starting with "Did you know?" One is that staying hydrated by drinking water on an empty stomach immediately after waking up in the morning prevents and treats asthma and "heart issues". (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Indomie noodles not offering a N100,000 giveaway to Nigerians – it's a scam A message circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook claims Indomie Nigeria has launched a competition giving away N100,000. Indomie is a leading noodle brand in Nigeria. " Indomie Consumer feedback activities! 6 December, 2021. Congratulations! Indomie Consumer feedback activities! Th (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Visa lottery application to live and work in the US? Beware of another engagement bait scam IN SHORT: While many young people on the African continent are keen to make a life in the United States, they would be advised to steer clear of this "registration portal". "UNITED STATES Visa Lottery Application Form 2022/2023 Is Out," reads a message posted on Facebook and What (Source: Africa Check)

Boko Haram members a...: Boko Haram members arrested in Lagos in 2020? Video seven years old " JUST IN: Boko Haram members Arrested in Lagos," reads the alarming headline of a video posted on Facebook on 21 February 2020. It adds: "BE ALERT!" Lagos , the major city and economic hub of Nigeria, lies in the far south of the country. Boko Haram is a militant Islamist group  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Bill Gates has not vowed to 'pump mRNA vaccines into food supply' IN SHORT: The Covid-19 pandemic saw not only disease spread worldwide, but misinformation too. Much of this has been around how vaccines do or don't work. A recent claim that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates wants to "'force-jab' the unvaccinated" through vaccinated livestock is i (Source: Africa Check)

Beware scam Facebook...: Beware scam Facebook account using identity of Kenya's Wajir county governor An imposter Facebook account using the name and photo of governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud of Wajir county in northeastern Kenya has posted several ads targeting county residents. About six adverts are active and all suspiciously require users to engage privately. One of the posts cl (Source: Africa Check)

SA received R6.1 bil...: SA received R6.1 billion in 2017 from US - not R300 billion, as DA mayor claimed Mayor claimed US provides R300 billion in aid to South Africa Data for 2017 show total aid stood at $471 million Most of the money goes to HIV & TB programmes South Africa should be wary of losing a major "blesser", a South African mayor has warned. Executive mayor of Nelson Mand (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence young Nigerian became first black woman to perform a 30-minute human heart transplant, with her studies funded by Peter Obi IN SHORT: There's no evidence that a young Nigerian woman, whose studies were funded by presidential candidate Peter Obi, was the first black woman to perform a human heart transplant in under 30 minutes. A viral tweet is pure fabrication. If you believe a popular claim circulati (Source: Africa Check)

Does a girl halve he...: Does a girl halve her HIV risk for each extra year she stays in high school? There are any number of arguments for boosting the education of girls in poorer nations. A person who knows more, regardless of gender, tends to earn more. The children of mothers with more education often do better themselves. American senator Tim Kaine added another item to the (Source: Africa Check)

False: Highway robbery video from Botswana, not Uganda or South Africa (or Kenya) A video of motorists under attack on a highway at night has been shared widely on social media across Africa. The video shows a group of five people crossing a dual carriageway and attacking motorists in cars that appear to be stopped in slow-moving traffic. On 23 February 2022 A (Source: Africa Check)

False: Ignore Facebook page impersonating Kenyan journalist Chemutai Goin IN SHORT: A Facebook page posting photos and controversial quotes, claiming to be by Kenyan journalist Chemutai Goin, is impersonating her. Goin says her official page is under the name "Jane Chemutai G". In the runup to William Ruto winning Kenya's August 2022 presidential elect (Source: Africa Check)

Mercy Okojie False Cancer Claim: Popular Nollywood actor Mercy Johnson doesn't have cancer – Facebook post is clickbait IN SHORT: A series of Facebook posts claim that the popular Nigerian actor is dying of cancer. But this is false, and appears to be an attempt to make money from the gossip mill. Posts published on Facebook in Nigeria claim that one of Nigeria's most popular actors has been diagn (Source: Africa Check)

No, lemon, ginger an...: No, lemon, ginger and garlic won't cure high blood pressure "Natural solution for high blood pressure," reads the headline of a Facebook post shared in Nigeria. The post claims lemon, ginger and garlic steeped in hot water and drunk twice daily is a remedy for high blood pressure. "You can add natural honey to taste (optional). Drink this (Source: Africa Check)

Did David Cameron sa...: Did David Cameron say UK would 'cease to exist' if it were looted like Nigeria? Former British prime minister David Cameron is famed to have given Nigeria the moniker of "fantastically corrupt". Cameron was overheard saying this to Queen Elizabeth at the start of an international anti-corruption summit in London in May 2015. ( Note: Africa Check pointed out  (Source: Africa Check)

No, maize and garlic...: No, maize and garlic mix is not a cure for duodenal ulcers A liquid made from blending fresh maize kernels and garlic is a "herbal cure for duodenal ulcer" that "sure works", claims a message posted on the Nigeria-based Facebook page " Beauty & Health Arena ". "Take half cup twice daily for a week and repeat every two weeks," it says . T (Source: Africa Check)

False: Don't fall for fake social media accounts said to be run by South Africa's human settlements department IN SHORT: Social media accounts claiming to be run by South Africa's human settlements department are fake. Read on for tips on how to identify fake account. Fake social media accounts are, unfortunately, common. And profiles impersonating public figures appear especially regular (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: French national arrested in Central African Republic – no evidence he was arms dealer 'setting Nigeria on fire' "Captured," begins a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria on 11 May 2021. "He is FRENCH, he is a journalist and a humanitarian services provider. Under cover, he is an Arms Dealer, setting this Country called Nigeria and other region on fire while we are blaming IPOB and Preside (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: No, ruling party campaign spokesperson did not give Nigerians the middle finger on national TV IN SHORT: A screenshot shared on social media in Nigeria appears to show a prominent politician giving Nigerians "the finger". But Festus Keyamo wasn't deliberately being rude in the televised interview. The APC spokesperson was listing items on the fingers of his hand and the sc (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, the sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar has not endorsed Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi IN SHORT: The rumours that a Nigerian traditional leader, the sultan of Sokoto, has endorsed the Labour Party's presidential candidate Peter Obi are just that – rumours, to be ignored. Has the influential sultan of Sokoto endorsed Peter Obi, the presidential candidate for Nigeria (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Coca-Cola and McDonald's have not stopped hiring white people for top positions "McDonalds and Coke have both announced no whites will be hired in top positions," reads a screenshot of a Facebook status update, reposted on Facebook in South Africa on 30 March 2021. There's no indication of whose update it is, or when it was made. It was posted with the comme (Source: Africa Check)

Charleneruto Fake Account: Ignore Twitter account impersonating Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenya's new president IN SHORT : From complete anonymity, Charlene Ruto has shot to national prominence in recent weeks after a barrage of public engagements. But a Twitter account using her name is run by an imposter. In recent weeks Charlene Ruto , the daughter of Kenya's new president William Ruto, (Source: Africa Check)

Often-misused photo...: Often-misused photo of 2007 public execution in Iran – not man executed in Syria for 'preaching gospel' "He was sentenced to death in Syria for preaching the Gospel and he's laughing at the gallows, because he knows his time is come to meet Christ Jesus," reads the caption of a photo posted on a Facebook group – with members in both Nigeria and the UK city of Manchester – on 11 Sep (Source: Africa Check)

Photo of opposition...: Photo of opposition leader Bobi Wine supporting Ugandan president Museveni doctored An image shared on a Facebook group page shows Uganda's opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi , known as Bobi Wine, lifting up what looks like a campaign poster of the country's president Yoweri Museveni . In the image , Wine is wearing a yellow beret with Museveni's image, and  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Huge crowd welcoming Nigerian presidential candidate Abubakar in Kano state? No, photos years old Ahead of the Nigerian general election in February 2023, politicians in the country are holding rallies, with large crowds seen as proof of popularity. On 29 August 2022, the day after Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar visited Kano in northern Nigeria (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, Kuwaiti ship me...: Yes, Kuwaiti ship met South African government terms to transport 60,000 sheep On 30 September 2019 an article was published on South African news website Dispatch Live with the headline: "Sheep ship gets go-ahead to transport 60, 000 live sheep." According to the article, a ship named Al Shuwaikh, docked in the East London harbour , in the Eastern Cape pro (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Poster announcing debates for election hopefuls in Kenya's Nakuru county is fake A poster with a claim that Mission to the Body of Christ International (MBCI), a Kenyan TV channel, is planning a series of debates for people seeking elective positions in Nakuru county has been shared on Facebook. The poster, branded with the logo of MBCI TV, reads : "NAKURU CO (Source: Africa Check)

Man with no heart ne...: Man with no heart needs surgery? No, photos of US actor Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man A post going around Facebook in Nigeria, posted on 12 January 2019, shows four photos of a bloodied and unhappy-looking man with a complicated mechanical device seemingly implanted in his chest. "He has no heart and is living with the help of this machine. But it's temporary. Doc (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, mortuary worker didn't become pregnant after raping dead man "Got pregnant from raping a Dead man on the Autopsy table!!" begins a viral screenshot circulating on Facebook in August 2022. The screenshot includes what appear to be two mugshots of a woman. A mugshot is a police photo of a suspect's head and profile used to identify them. "A  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Controversial anti-women social media influencer Andrew Tate has not been released from detention in Romania IN SHORT: The arrest of Andrew Tate in Romania on allegations of human trafficking made headlines in December 2022. Despite persistent social media rumours, he, his brother and two others are still in detention at time of writing, and have not been released by Romanian authoritie (Source: Africa Check)

Zuma's land reform f...: Zuma's land reform figures: Officials don't seem to know the real numbers Has the South African government "redistributed 9.4-million hectares of land" since 1994 as part of its land reform programme? This was the claim made by President Jacob Zuma in a speech marking the release of the Presidency's 20 Year Review of government performance. But the sta (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence UK police found US$8.5 million in property of Nigerian vice president's brother IN SHORT: A claim about a large amount of cash found in a London flat has resurfaced on social media, after first gaining traction years ago. But it remains thin on details now, as it was then, and there's no link to Nigeria or to the country's vice president. A post on Facebook  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Kenya's elections boss accused politicians of 'making love with my commissioners'? No, quote fake A graphic circulating on Facebook in late August 2022 attributes a controversial quote to Wafula Chebukati, the chair of Kenya's electoral commission . "When others were doing their campaigns across the country, others were making love with my commissioners. It was not my wish to (Source: Africa Check)

Do 12 Africans die o...: Do 12 Africans die of hunger every minute? The claim is exaggerated A senior food and nutrition adviser to Nepad, the development arm of the African Union, has claimed that twelve people die of hunger every minute in Africa. If true it would mean that 94,000 people – enough to fill the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg – are dying of hunger every five- (Source: Africa Check)

How many barrels of...: How many barrels of oil stolen a day in Nigeria? Buhari in right ballpark with 250,000 On a visit to the US in late July, President Muhammadu Buhari told an audience at the Nigerian Embassy he wanted to put an end to the theft of the country's crude oil by ministers seen, he said, under his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan. "The amount involved is mind-boggling. Some (Source: Africa Check)

No, the almond tree...: No, the almond tree can't treat diabetes or high blood pressure The leaves of the almond tree are a remedy for diabetes, and the tree's bark can help control high blood pressure. That's the claim in a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria. "If you are having type 1 diabetes or type two diabetes just get the leaves of tree squeeze it, filter a (Source: Africa Check)

False: Viral video of hospital with leaking roof from Ghana, not Uganda A video showing rainwater pouring through a leaking roof in what appears to be a hospital has been shared on Facebook. The video has been viewed more than 1,800 times , with the claim it shows a hospital in Uganda. It is captioned : "God help Uganda coz it's conditions are worsen (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nairobian didn't...: No, Nairobian didn't report musician's 'divorce' An image that appears to show the front page of the Nairobian , a Kenyan weekly newspaper, is making the rounds on social media. The headline reads : "Muigai's wife Njeri files for divorce." The newspaper shows the dates 10 to 17 July 2020. The Nairobian is a weekly published eve (Source: Africa Check)

N20,000 Covid-19 rel...: N20,000 Covid-19 relief fund for one million Nigeria youth? Beware of scam A message circulating on WhatsApp claims that the distribution of N20,000 to one million Nigerian youths as part of a pandemic relief fund will start in December 2020. The link in the message directs to a Google form titled " Covid-19 relief fund". The form, which has also been s (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: People can only see 1% of the visible light spectrum? No, it's VISIBLE – we can see all of it IN SHORT : Visible light is just one type of electromagnetic radiation, and the visible light spectrum a tiny part (0.0035%) of the much bigger electromagnetic spectrum. Visible light is so named because it's light we can see. We see 100% of it, not the 1% claimed in a graphic. " (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Ugandan president Museveni hasn't ordered arrest of 10 for funding rebel group – letter fake IN SHORT : Did Yoweri Museveni name and order the arrest of 10 people for funding the newly formed Uganda Coalition Forces of Change? No, the president's spokesperson has dismissed a letter to army intelligence ordering the arrests as fabricated. Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence for Face...: No evidence for Facebook user's claims about Covid-19 surge in South Africa Ahead of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's address to the nation on 3 December 2020 by, a Facebook user with thousands of followers claimed that a significant increase in Covid-19 cases in the country was artificial. "The 'surge' of Covid-19 in hot weather is astonishing, (Source: Africa Check)

Video not of New Zea...: Video not of New Zealand mosque shooter beaten up in jail – it's from Canada A 56-second video circulating on Facebook shows men dressed in orange prison overalls beating up another male prisoner. It's captioned: "New Zealand shooter gets a warm reception in jail." The suggestion is that the victim is Brenton Tarrant , who shot to death 50 Muslim worshipp (Source: Africa Check)

False: Photo of kids in flooded classroom from Kenya, not Zimbabwe A photo of children sitting on large bricks while dirty water flows through what seems to be their mud-walled classroom has been circulating on Facebook in September 2021 with the claim that it was snapped in Zimbabwe . "A school in Binga – Zimbabwe," the caption reads . The Bing (Source: Africa Check)

No, photo not of wom...: No, photo not of woman 'kidnapped and beaten' by George Floyd A screenshot widely shared on Facebook in South Africa shows a woman with a bloody and bruised face, one eye swollen shut. "Aracely Henriquez was the woman kidnapped and brutally beaten by George #Floyd and his five accomplices, as they searched her home for drugs and money," the (Source: Africa Check)

Social media's favou...: Social media's favourite little boy 'doing wonderful' The boy that took timelines by storm this time a year ago "is doing wonderful". A photo of Jake Amo from the village Asempanaye in Ghana was the meme of choice for many a joke in 2016. Africa Check determined that photographer Carlos Cortes had taken the famous picture of 4-year  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: 'Wajackoyah takes the lead' in Kenya's presidential race? No, graphic with Citizen TV logo is fake A graphic on what seems to be a screengrab of a Citizen TV broadcast showing vote projections for Kenya's 2022 presidential election is circulating on Facebook. It's titled "PRESIDENTIAL RACE 2022." At the top is George Wajackoyah , the presidential candidate for the Roots Party  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence South African alcohol retailers have been warned of an upcoming December 2021 lockdown Several times since the outbreak of Covid-19, the South African authorities have banned or restricted the sale of alcohol. These restrictions and other measures were meant to slow or prevent the spread of the disease. However, in early November 2021, as the country recorded relat (Source: Africa Check)

Nigeria's schools no...: Nigeria's schools not reopening for exams in July A post on Facebook page Enjoyment Tee claims Nigeria's federal government will allow pupils in the final years of primary and secondary school to sit exams in July 2020. On 19 March, Nigeria's education ministry ordered all private and public schools shut, as part of measures to  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photo doesn't show Kenyan presidential candidate Ruto snubbing Kilifi governorship hopeful Jumwa at rally Kenya is set to hold general elections on 9 August 2022. Voters will choose a new president, as well as members of the senate and national assembly, and county governors and assemblies. The leading candidates for the presidency are current deputy president William Ruto of the Ken (Source: Africa Check)

No! Kenyan President...: No! Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has not legalised marijuana A photo shared on Facebook shows Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, on a television screen. A banner along the lower third of the screen reads: "Breaking news: Bhang is legal. Due to high reported cases of cancer bhang is legal to prevent cancer." "Bangi" is a Kenyan slang word fo (Source: Africa Check)

Get your free iPhone...: Get your free iPhone? No, Facebook page a scam The Facebook page " Get your free Iphone " is offering – you guessed it – free iPhones. "Congratulations to our previous 500 winners," one post reads. "Here is another chance for another set of 8,000 people to win." The post has been shared in India and South Africa, and viewed b (Source: Africa Check)

False: Filthy water in South Africa's Limpopo province, 'today'? No, photo from US, and nine years old A photo of a basin full of brown water was posted on Facebook in April 2021 with the claim it shows the quality of tap water in Polokwane, the capital of South Africa's Limpopo province . "So lyk Pietersburg/Polokwane se water weer vandag," the Afrikaans caption reads. This loose (Source: Africa Check)

Comparison of Tanya...: Comparison of Tanya McDowell and Felicity Huffman sentences misleading Claims about the different treatment of two mothers were shared on Facebook in South Africa on 23 October 2019. The post shows two photos side by side. On the left is a photo of a black woman, handcuffed and in a gray hoodie. Text underneath the photo says: "Tanya McDowell. Lied  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Concept art shows hypothetical carbon-capturing 'mechanical tree', but none built yet "THIS IS A TREE!" reads text on a graphic above a picture of a tall and unusual columnar structure that looks nothing like a tree, towering over cactus plants in a desert. "Technically, it's called a mechanical tree," the graphic says, claiming that the object "sucks CO2 out of t (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's president ap...: Kenya's president appointing elderly man? No, photo of Lesotho prime minister Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta's government has faced criticism for appointing older people to prestigious leadership positions and leaving out younger candidates. In late November 2019, the appointment of Macharia Irungu as the new managing director of the Kenya Pipeline Compan (Source: Africa Check)

Quote Not By William Shakespeare: No, William Shakespeare didn't write 'I always feel happy' quote British poet, playwright and actor William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616 and wrote at least 37 plays, according to the British Library . Hamlet, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth are among the more (Source: Africa Check)

No, 'vitamin B17' is...: No, 'vitamin B17' isn't a vitamin, doesn't cure cancer – and could poison you "CANCER HAS BEEN DEFEATED," declares a post on a Facebook page in Nigeria. "Cancer can be cured: Vitamin B17." It claims cancer was "defeated" decades ago, but "the truth has simply been concealed". "If there is cancer in one's body, it is of utmost importance to intake big amoun (Source: Africa Check)

SA billboard likely...: SA billboard likely understates child 'hunger' deaths South Africa's national airline is robbing South Africans of resources that could be put to better use, the country's Democratic Alliance (DA) party claimed. The official opposition recently put up a billboard to highlight the scale of government money spent on South African Airl (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photo doesn't show US president Biden begging George Floyd's son for forgiveness "American President Joe Biden kneels down to beg George Floyd's son for forgiveness," begins the caption of a photo circulating on social media in Nigeria and South Africa in April 2021. The photo shows Joe Biden , the 46th and current president of the USA, on one knee in front o (Source: Africa Check)

South African busine...: South African businessman bought airline with Bitcoin? No, it's a scam "The secret behind the sale of an airline in South Africa," reads the headline of an article on a suspicious website with the URL bbc.org.sa.com. "One of the most famous businessmen in South Africa managed to acquire an airline in South Africa in a confidential deal whose details (Source: Africa Check)

Six South African ci...: Six South African cities in top 20 of world's 'most dangerous'? Crime index based on website users' opinions In February 2021, South African websites reported that six of the country's cities were in the top 20 of the "most dangerous" in the world, according to the Numbeo.com Crime Index by City 2021. Numbeo.com's crime index only uses the perceptions of visitors to its website. It is n (Source: Africa Check)

False: Nigerian government disowns widely shared 'inauguration programme' for new president's swearing-in IN SHORT: A programme of activities for the swearing-in of Nigerian president-elect Bola Tinubu has been circulating on social media. Disregard it, officials say. Posts claiming to show the activities planned for the inauguration of Nigeria's president-elect Bola Tinubu have been (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Since 1994, nearly 5,000 farms, comprising 4.2-million hectares, have been transferred to black people, benefiting over 200,000 families." 9.4-million hectares of land or 7.6-million? Claim "Since 1994, nearly 5,000 farms, comprising 4.2-million hectares, have been transferred to black people, benefiting over 200,000 families." Verdict unproven There is conflicting data. Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gu (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Nearly 80,000 land claims, totalling 3.4 million hectares, have been settled and 1.8 million people have benefited." 9.4-million hectares of land or 7.6-million? Claim "Since 1994, nearly 5,000 farms, comprising 4.2-million hectares, have been transferred to black people, benefiting over 200,000 families." Verdict unproven There is conflicting data. Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gu (Source: Africa Check)

Devil found dead on...: Devil found dead on beach? No, fake image a composite of two old photos An image of what seems to be a massive creature with a bird-like head and humanoid arms, lying on a beach with an ocean behind it and a crowd of people in the foreground, has been posted on a Kenyan Facebook page . "Finally the devil found dead on the beach of Pacific Ocean," the (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, World Health Organization head didn't say Covid vaccines kill kids A video originally shared on TikTok and later posted to Facebook appears to show the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) saying that booster vaccines against Covid-19 "kill children". In one Facebook post the video – which has been viewed more than 400,000 tim (Source: Africa Check)

Beware impostor Face...: Beware impostor Facebook page for Kenyan MP Sudi, offering fake giveaways A Facebook page called "Oscar Kipchumba Sudi, MP Kapseret" has published multiple posts promising to give away motorbikes to "youth". Oscar Kipchumba Sudi represents the Kapseret constituency in Uasin Gishu county, northwest of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Four posts published be (Source: Africa Check)

False: Old image resurfaces: photo from protest in South Africa, not a man digging up a road in Kenya IN SHORT: We'd seen it before – a photo of a man digging up a road with a pick axe, shared with the claim it showed an incident in Kenya. But like in 2020, this is incorrect. The photo is from South Africa. "Why haven't Kenyan security agencies arrested this man damaging a public (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's president qu...: Kenya's president quotes incorrect Covid-19 data again In September 2020, Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta was cautiously optimistic as he eased restrictions intended to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic . But just over a month later, the president's upbeat tone was gone. The country had "experienced a reversal" and had a "new (Source: Africa Check)

Scam alert: Ignore i...: Scam alert: Ignore imposter Rachel Ruto Facebook account offering loans A Facebook account claiming to belong to Rachel Ruto, the wife of Kenya's deputy president William Ruto, is advertising loans to Kenyans. At the time of writing, four active posts advertise school fees, business loans , free new motorbikes and tuk-tuks , or tricycle auto rickshaw (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, infectious disease expert Dr Tony Fauci has not been 'indited' – 'jury' and process not legally recognised Dr Anthony Fauci is the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to US president Joe Biden . Fauci is a leading infectious diseases expert and has advised seven US presidents on HIV/Aids, but he has become especially well- (Source: Africa Check)

World Health Organiz...: World Health Organization not proposing an alcohol ban for 'women of childbearing age' The WHO released a first draft of a global alcohol action plan, suggesting interventions to reduce alcohol-related disorders and deaths. The plan says "appropriate attention" should be given to the "prevention of drinking among pregnant women and women of childbearing age", but d (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine didn't tweet he would be working with ruling NRM government "Kenyan politics have inspired me more. The Ruto, Raila & Uhuru have been working together though with different political Ideologies," reads a screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine , posted on Facebook in September 2021. It goes on: "I (Source: Africa Check)

Would more than half...: Would more than half of South African parents advise their kids to emigrate? In a survey conducted by South African website Parent24, participants were asked: "Would you advise your child to stay in South Africa or emigrate? "Over half" of South African parents answered that they would tell their child to emigrate, the website reported on their 2014 Kids  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Beware fake Facebook pages impersonating Helb, Kenya's varsity loan agency IN SHORT : The Higher Education Loans Board helps students pay for after-school studies. But its work has prompted scores of fake Helb pages to spring up. Fake Facebook pages using the name of Helb, Kenya's Higher Education Loans Board , have been posting dodgy messages offering  (Source: Africa Check)

Is Andile Mngxitama'...: Is Andile Mngxitama's 'black formula' to calculate white land ownership in SA correct? A vineyard of table grapes in De Doorns, a small farming town about 140 km North of Cape Town in January 2013. Photo: AFP/Rodger Bosch To calculate the share of white land ownership in South Africa is simple, former Economic Freedom Fight member of parliament Andile Mngxitama twe (Source: Africa Check)

Victims of traffic c...: Victims of traffic crash, not Fulani 'herdsmen' attack in Nigeria's Kogi state A post on the " The Harcore Biafrans " Facebook page claims Fulani herdsmen invaded a transport terminal in Kogi state in central Nigeria and shot dead all the passengers boarding a bus to Edo, a state in the south of the country. It was posted on 13 August 2019 and includes two  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, photos show gra...: Yes, photos show graves submerged beneath South Africa's Vaal Dam The Vaal Dam is South Africa's second-largest dam by area, completed in 1938 and touching three South African provinces – the Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. But what lies beneath the dam? Do these photos really show a submerged cemetery on which the dam was built? Several Fa (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Uganda didn't revoke Covid-19 cash relief and prime minister didn't tweet about it A screenshot of a tweet posted on Facebook claims Uganda's prime minister Robinah Nabbanja has said a Covid pandemic cash relief plan is not going ahead. The tweet, which appears to have been published on 2 July 2021, reads : "In light of the statistical updates from the [Ministr (Source: Africa Check)

No, bathing with vin...: No, bathing with vinegar will not tighten the vagina or eliminate vaginal odour Several "solutions" to "vaginal odour" are offered in a message posted on Facebook in Uganda. These at-home "remedies" include taking a bath with apple cider vinegar to cure bacterial vaginosis. "The presence of bacteria is one of the reasons why there is vaginal odour that's why (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's Standard rep...: Kenya's Standard reports chief justice 'to dissolve parliament'? No, just another fake front page "Maraga set to dissolve Parliament," reads what seems to be the front page headline of the 9 June 2020 issue of the Standard , a Kenyan daily, posted several times on Facebook . It shows a photo of David Maraga, Kenya's chief justice . The text below reads: "Chief Justice sets in (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, graphic showing 'joint media tally' of Kenya's presidential votes is fake IN SHORT : A graphic claiming to be a joint media tally of the voting in Kenya's 2022 presidential election shows former prime minister Raila Odinga as the winner. This is false - official results placed Odinga second, while Kenya's media confirmed they did not jointly tally the  (Source: Africa Check)

New claims that Nige...: New claims that Nigeria's president Buhari died in 2017 are still false A Facebook post published on 16 March 2019 claims Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari died in the United Kingdom. Within days the post by the Onyeka Ekwenugo page had been shared over 67 times and garnered 16 comments and 34 reactions. It reads: "CNN has finally released the demi (Source: Africa Check)

Biznews Climate Meta Check: No emergency? Interview with 'dissident climatologist' on South African website misleads on climate change IN SHORT : There is plenty of evidence presented by countless scientists that global heating and climate change is destroying species, habitats, industries and, with extreme weather events, lives. Downplaying the climate emergency is dangerous. "There's no emergency," begins the  (Source: Africa Check)

Media reports exagge...: Media reports exaggerate the number of Zambian and SA women who binge drink "SA women top boozers" splashed the headline in The Times on Tuesday. "South African women top the list of heavy drinking females in Africa" said the report, attributing the claim to a "World Health Organisation report". The report "analysed drinking patterns worldwide and reveal (Source: Africa Check)

Hungry Lion 'back fr...: Hungry Lion 'back from lockdown' and hiring? No, Facebook ad fake A number of Facebook pages continue to advertise fake jobs at South African companies. One recent advert, posted on 10 June 2020, claims to be from South African fast food chain Hungry Lion . It says the chain is "back from lockdown" and offering jobs for cashiers, cleaners and c (Source: Africa Check)

Buhari & APC's campa...: Buhari & APC's campaign promises: Appraising 9 pledges 2 years on Nigeria's 2017 Democracy Day - celebrated every year on 29 May - marked the 2nd anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari's All Progressive Congress government. In the run-up to the election, Buhari promised Nigerians change through many policies, programmes and interventions, as (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, kale juice can't 'protect' you from diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure "Kale juice can protect against type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure," reads text on an image posted on Facebook. It claims that the leafy green vegetable is "not just loaded with antioxidants" but also a nutritional "superfood". What does this mean? And can a  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, hundreds hospit...: Yes, hundreds hospitalised in India in December 2020 for unidentified disease Just when you thought 2020 couldn't get any worse, a post circulating on Facebook claims that "hundreds of people in India were hospitalised from a disease yet to be identified". The 8 December post was shared to Facebook by the page Izindaba-Ditaba-News , which describes itself  (Source: Africa Check)

Top official gets it...: Top official gets it wrong: Kenya nowhere near seventh in world for Covid-19 vaccination Two months into Kenya's Covid-19 vaccine rollout, top health official Dr Mercy Mwangangi said the country was seventh "on the leaderboard of vaccination in the world". But global health experts said the claim was "difficult" to make, and any ranking should be based on the percent (Source: Africa Check)

Have South Africans...: Have South Africans paid up R238bn in fuel levies in 6 years? Not if you do the sums How much have South Africans coughed up in fuel levies in recent years? Was it around R238 billion over the past six years or R240 billion since 1998, or R180 billion? These are the conflicting claims made recently by the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance  (OUTA) - a pressure  (Source: Africa Check)

Are there 13, 14 or...: Are there 13, 14 or 15 million hungry people in South Africa? Calling for an end to the "hunger crisis" which sees "14 million people going to bed hungry" , the South African Food Sovereignty Campaign plans to hold a bread march against hunger in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday. Claims about the number of hungry people in South Africa (Source: Africa Check)

Do half of men and a...: Do half of men and a third of women in South Africa smoke? The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World's 2018 survey found that 49% of men and 34.1% of women in South Africa smoked tobacco. The foundation only surveyed 1,000 people in English or Afrikaans. More thorough studies have found smoking to be less common in South Africa. Does South A (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Doctored video of US president Joe Biden supposedly condemning transgender women still making the rounds IN SHORT: A supreme court ruling on freedom of association for the gay community has dominated public debate in Kenya since February 2023. But an altered video appearing to show the US president making controversial comments about transgender women continues to be shared on Whats (Source: Africa Check)

False: Facebook not about to 'close' – ignore old, debunked message Posts with a familiar message are spreading on Facebook, warning that the social media platform is about to "close down" as it has become "overpopulated". The posts claim to reproduce a " Message from the Facebook Administrator (Max Hamilton)" and tell users to forward the messag (Source: Africa Check)

False: Scam alert: Zambia's commerce ministry not offering grants to entrepreneurs Posts claiming the Zambian government is offering grants to business owners during the Covid-19 pandemic have been shared on Facebook. One reads : "Important announcement: We have partnered with Zambia Development Agency to support SME's by giving financial aid to help them recov (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No Kenyan news platform quoted MP Gachagua accusing deputy president Ruto of 'betrayal' A graphic circulating on Facebook in January 2022 quotes Kenyan member of parliament Rigathi Gachagua accusing deputy president William Ruto of "betrayal". "Mt. Kenya betrayal has started even before the elections. I brought Mt. Kenya to William Ruto only for him to pick Musalia  (Source: Africa Check)

No new data shows So...: No new data shows South Africa's Mpumalanga is world's 'worst nitrogen dioxide pollution hotspot' South Africa's Mpumalanga province "is the worst nitrogen dioxide pollution hotspot in the world". Melita Steele, Greenpeace Africa's senior climate and energy campaign manager, made the claim in a prime-time TV interview in February 2019. Steele was speaking on Carte Blanche , a (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigeria's leader Muhammadu Buhari ordered security agency to arrest presidential candidate Peter Obi IN SHORT: With campaigning in top gear in Nigeria ahead of February 2023 elections, all manner of claims are circulating online. But there is no evidence the Labour Party candidate threatened to burn down a mosque, or that he will be arrested for this. A post published on Faceboo (Source: Africa Check)

No, US president Tru...: No, US president Trump didn't say media hates him for not joining Illuminati "They hate me because I failed to join the Illuminati – Trump," reads the headline of a 25 April 2020 post on the Nigerian blog Rozamy . The post is presented as a statement by US president Donald Trump . It quotes him as saying the US media has turned against him "because I reco (Source: Africa Check)

Naivas supermarket j...: Naivas supermarket jobs? Another fake Facebook page A Facebook page " Naivas Supermarket Jobs " has been advertising vacancies at Naivas supermarket , a supermarket chain in Kenya. Ads have been posted repeatedly since the page was created in 2019. All link to a Google Form , advertising thousands of open jobs at the supermarket c (Source: Africa Check)

All ranitidine antac...: All ranitidine antacid medicines – not just Neotack – withdrawn from Kenyan market after cancer findings The Kenyan government has "withdrawn from the market, all anti-acid Ranitidine sold in Kenya as Neotack after it was linked to cancer in the US", claims a post shared on Facebook on 2 October 2019. It shows a photo of a pack of Neotack 150 , a brand of medicine that contains the  (Source: Africa Check)

No, flies don't 'giv...: No, flies don't 'give birth' on food, but can carry germs A cringe-inducing video posted on Facebook shows fingers squeezing a large fly sitting on plastic. The insect then releases a large number of squirming maggots . "This video is made from a microscope when the fly sits on our food then what does it do?" the caption reads . "Send i (Source: Africa Check)

No, Carrefour Kenya...: No, Carrefour Kenya is currently not hiring, this job ad is a scam A job advert posted on Facebook on 11 March 2020 claims that Carrefour Kenya has some new job opportunities. The post reads, " Our client New European chain of Supermarkets which was recently opened at two Rivers Mall Carrefour is expanding its market in Kenya by opening a new br (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: '11% of maternal deaths in Nigeria due to unsafe abortions' In arguing for the decriminalisation of abortion in Nigeria, Dr Habeeb Salami of Pathfinder International made several claims about the toll the resulting unsafe abortions take on women's lives. But his claim that 11% of pregnancy-related deaths in the country are caused by unsaf (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: Nigeria records a mortality rate of 570 per 100,000 live births. In arguing for the decriminalisation of abortion in Nigeria, Dr Habeeb Salami of Pathfinder International made several claims about the toll the resulting unsafe abortions take on women's lives. But his claim that 11% of pregnancy-related deaths in the country are caused by unsaf (Source: Africa Check)

Exaggerated: 'Nothing less' than 200 women in Nigeria die pregnancy-related deaths 'every day'. In arguing for the decriminalisation of abortion in Nigeria, Dr Habeeb Salami of Pathfinder International made several claims about the toll the resulting unsafe abortions take on women's lives. But his claim that 11% of pregnancy-related deaths in the country are caused by unsaf (Source: Africa Check)

Are Nigerian immigra...: Are Nigerian immigrants top of the class in the US? Nigerian immigrants feature consistently among the top according to US data But least 7 other countries had higher educational attainment in 2016 In that year, at least 260,000 Nigerian immigrants had a bachelor's degree US president Donald Trump is misinformed about Africans, sa (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Beware of US army recruitment scam on Facebook An amateur-looking website titled "USA ARMY RECRIUTMENT PROGRAMME 2022" has been shared widely on Facebook . A long Facebook post with a link to the website reads : "Online Applications Now Open Forieghners/Africans. USA Army has released Application Forms and Successful applican (Source: Africa Check)

Somalia's president...: Somalia's president and deputy exchange blows? No, five-year-old video of Somaliland politicians A video posted on Facebook on 16 August 2020 shows two men sitting at a podium who suddenly stand up and start punching each other. The scene soon becomes chaos as other men rush forward to join the fight. "Good governance, Somali style," the description reads . "The President of (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, Kenyan oppositi...: Yes, Kenyan opposition leader vowed to resign if 1m signatures raised to change constitution A video clip showing a top official in Kenya's opposition Orange Democratic Party vowing to resign if the Thirdway Alliance Kenya got a million signatures supporting a referendum to change the constitution has surfaced on social media. The video was posted on Facebook and Twitter (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: "The colonisers left us with a gross domestic product, which is a measure of our national cake, of close to KSh6.4 billion in 1963 using the exchange rate of the time." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "The combined administrations of Mzee [Jomo] Kenyatta, Mzee [Daniel arap] Moi and Mzee [Mwai] Kibaki increased this national cake to KSh4.5 trillion in a span of 50 years." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "In the last eight years, my administration has doubled what the colonisers and the first three administrations did in 128 years." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Understated: "At the county level, we have allocated KSh2.3 trillion to our counties." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The total allocation to counties is equivalent to 16% of our GDP." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: "The previous administrations combined issued 6 million title deeds to Kenyans in five [50] years; in the last seven years my administration has issued 5.1 million title deeds." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: "Today, and in only six years, we have 54 renal units with 360 state-of-the-art dialysis machines distributed among 47 counties." In his 2021 Madaraka Day speech, president Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenya's gross domestic product at independence in 1963 was KSh6.4 billion. This is mostly correct. But his claim that this was increased to KSh4.5 trillion in the following 50 years is misleading. He claimed his admin (Source: Africa Check)

Leaves of garden egg...: Leaves of garden egg 'clean' kidneys and help 'avoid dialysis'? No – visit kidney specialist instead "Clean your kidneys now. Avoid dialysis," reads a message posted on Facebook in Nigeria. "Buy garden egg leaves." The garden egg is a type of eggplant (also known as an aubergine or brinjal) used as a food crop in several African countries. Its botanical name is Solanum gilo . Th (Source: Africa Check)

Beware: another MTN...: Beware: another MTN giveaway scam on Facebook A Facebook page called " M.T.N Lockdown Giveaways - Kingdom " is advertising phone, car and laptop giveaways for students. "MTN is here to support the First 5,000 students because of this pandemic period," one post reads. MTN is a large mobile telecoms company which operates in s (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, US Maritime Executive didn't report that Kenyan deputy president linked to $240 million Maersk bribe scandal – screenshot fake "EXPOSE: KENYA'S DEPUTY PRESIDENT LINKED TO $240 MILLION MAERSK BRIBE SCANDAL," reads the headline in a screenshot of an article posted on Facebook. The screenshot has the masthead of the US magazine Maritime Executive and is dated 22 December 2021. "Danish Owned Shipping line Ma (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, South African president Ramaphosa wasn't 'award-winning apartheid policeman' – article on reservist training in late 1990s "I'm here with a reminder that your current president was an award winning policeman during apartheid," reads a screenshot going viral on South African social media since May 2022 . It includes an old undated newspaper article with the headline : "Cyril becomes weekend warrior in (Source: Africa Check)

Lion on the streets...: Lion on the streets of Mombasa? No, photo from Joburg movie shoot In November 2019, Facebook users from the Moiben constituency in Uasin Gishu county in western Kenya were worried that there could be a lion roaming their villages. They shared photos that they said was proof of the animal's presence, and the damage it had caused. The Standard ne (Source: Africa Check)

Ayi watsi da rahotan...: Ayi watsi da rahotannin ƙarya da ke cewa ɗan sandan Najeriya da aka kora Abba Kyari ya tsere zuwa ƙasar Australia Wani rubutu da aka raba a Facebook a Najeriya ranar 6 ga watan Yulin 2022 na iƙirarin cewa babban jami'in ɗan sanda da aka dakatar Abba Kyari ya tsere zuwa ƙasar Australia bayan ƴan bindigar daji sun kai hari gidan yarin da ake tsare da shi. Rubutun na Facebook na cewa : 'Sa'oi b (Source: Africa Check)

No, drinking alcohol...: No, drinking alcohol won't kill the coronavirus "Alcohol kills coronavirus," reads the text on what seems to be a screengrab of a CNN news broadcast shared on Facebook in Kenya. It shows CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer. Text on the image below the screengrab reads : "Wacha tukunywe sasa." That's Kiswahili for "Let's drink now." "The c (Source: Africa Check)

Allurar rigakafi ba...: Allurar rigakafi ba zata sa ku zama 'marasa iri' ba "Matuƙar zasu iya mai da ɗan itace mara iri, zasu iya mayar da KU marasa iri ku ma," wani hoto da ke yawo a Facebook ke cewa . Hoton ya nuno kankana babu ƴan ƴan ƙwallayanta, a saman hoton kuma hannu ne a cikin abun rufe hannu na asibiti da sirinjin allura a hannun. Daga gani dai (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence that pla...: No evidence that plant concoction can cure Ebola Drinking a mixture made from a plant popularly known as ewedu, or kren-kren, can protect people against the Ebola virus, Nigeria's leading Guardian and Nation newspapers have reported. The sensational articles were accompanied by equally sensational headlines.  "How I discovered  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Nigerian presidential candidate Bola Tinubu about to 'shove Christian wife aside' for a Muslim woman? Viral claim is 'propaganda' governing APC party says IN SHORT : Religion plays a prominent role in Nigerian politics, but this claim doing the rounds is false. A post circulating on Facebook claims the presidential candidate for Nigeria's governing All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, is about to marry a Muslim wife. She would b (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Kenyan president William Ruto hasn't ordered closure of AI chatbot ChatGPT, online graphic is fake IN SUMMARY: The artificial intelligence chatbot has taken the world by storm. But claims that Kenya's leader is so worried about its effect on students that he has banned it in the country are false. A graphic circulating on social media claims that Kenyan president William Ruto  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's central bank not planning to close digital finance companies IN SHORT: Digital financial apps have become popular in Nigeria after a currency reform policy hit serious hurdles. But the banking regulator is not about to shut these apps down, as online claims suggest. Posts on Facebook claim that Nigeria's central bank is planning to shut do (Source: Africa Check)

Zambia doesn't hold...: Zambia doesn't hold 60% of southern Africa's freshwater, but 4.5% If Zambia has 60% of the freshwater in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), why does it import fish from China? Investment consultant, Fisho Mwale, reportedly referred to this state of affairs when he made a presentation at a national enterprise conference in Lusaka (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Ignore scam Facebook page impersonating popular Kenyan preacher IN SHORT : Prayers for cash? Pastor Ezekiel Odera can fill stadiums, so it's unlikely that he'd beg for money on a clumsy Facebook page that misspells his name. A Facebook page with the lengthy name " Pastor Ezikiel prayers offering MPESA number 0719302614 " asks users to send an (Source: Africa Check)

China didn't recover...: China didn't recover from Covid-19 without vaccines – and Tanzanian president Magufuli didn't make claim A graphic shared widely on Facebook claims that Tanzanian president John Magufuli has questioned why Africa needs Covid-19 vaccines when China has recovered from the pandemic without them. "If China recovered in three months from the devastation of Covid-19 without a single vacci (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenya lawmaker Onyonka eyeing senate, not running for Kisii county governorship – election poster fake An election poster circulating on Facebook in January 2022 suggests that Kenyan member of parliament Richard Onyonka is standing for the governor's seat in Kisii county , west of the capital Nairobi. Kenya is set to hold general elections in August. "ONYONKA RICHARD FOR GOVERNOR  (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No evidence apple cider vinegar cures toenail fungus Can soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar help "get rid of toenail fungus"? That's one of the claims made in a graphic posted on Facebook . It features a photo of someone pouring yellow liquid over their feet in a tub of water and a list of ailments a mix of apple cider vinega (Source: Africa Check)

Nigerian man kills U...: Nigerian man kills UK police trying to deport him, with one punch? No, photos of 'bruising' fight in Italy Photos on the site Legit Funds show a man fighting uniformed officers. They're headlined: "Nigeria Man Beats two police officer to death in London for trying to Deport him." The article , dated 23 May 2020, claims that an "African immigrant resisting deportation from the UK" knoc (Source: Africa Check)

No, Naivas supermark...: No, Naivas supermarket not giving away vouchers in survey competition UPDATE : After this article was published, the administrators of the Facebook page MEA Customer Survey reached out to Africa Check and said they had bought vouchers from Naivas and issued the vouchers to the winners of the competition as promised in the disputed post. Naivas auth (Source: Africa Check)

No, Trump didn't twe...: No, Trump didn't tweet criticism of Kenyan deputy president Ruto's 'hustler' talk A screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by US president Donald Trump, criticising Kenyan deputy president William Ruto's "hustler" narrative, has been posted on Facebook. "It's crazy for AFRICANS to think that any politician is the future of their country," it reads . "There is  (Source: Africa Check)

No announcement on w...: No announcement on when Uganda's schools will reopen Schools in Uganda will reopen in early 2021, according to a document posted on Facebook. "The office of the Minister of Education has today Thursday, June 25, 2020 announced that schools will not be opened any time soon and we urge all parents to kindly buy for the students educa (Source: Africa Check)

Supporters of arrest...: Supporters of arrested Kenyan MP digging up road? No, photo of protest in South Africa A photo posted on the Facebook page " Bigwig Kenya News " on 24 September 2020 shows a man hacking through the tarred surface of a road with a pickaxe while a group of other men look on. More sections of damaged road can be seen in the distance. "Supporters of Kapseret MP Oscar S (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigeria's Labour Party presidential candidate Obi bribed major churches with N2 billion in return for votes of the faithful IN SHORT : Peter Obi is the only Christian candidate among the four frontrunners in the race for the presidency of Nigeria, a country often riven by its Muslim-Christian divide. With days to go before the vote, a claim that Obi has bribed major churches is just more election seas (Source: Africa Check)

No, murder rate for...: No, murder rate for women in South Africa hasn't spiked by 117% A TV programme on gender-based violence claimed there had been a 117% rise in the killing of women in South Africa since 2015, according to "UN estimates". We traced the claim to a Statistics South Africa report that compared two different sets of data. The report has since been  (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "From 2013, up to now where we are, [the] inflation rate has gone up cumulatively by 40%..." After a first presidential debate failed to take off , a rescheduled one took place on Monday 24 July in Nairobi. Only three of six candidates showed up for the first part of the debate. For the much-anticipated second session, Raila Odinga the flagbearer of the main opposition c (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "From 2013, up to now where we are… the average [minimum] wage has only increased by 12%." After a first presidential debate failed to take off , a rescheduled one took place on Monday 24 July in Nairobi. Only three of six candidates showed up for the first part of the debate. For the much-anticipated second session, Raila Odinga the flagbearer of the main opposition c (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Unemployment right now stands at 40%." After a first presidential debate failed to take off , a rescheduled one took place on Monday 24 July in Nairobi. Only three of six candidates showed up for the first part of the debate. For the much-anticipated second session, Raila Odinga the flagbearer of the main opposition c (Source: Africa Check)

Baringo county's Moi...: Baringo county's Moi ranked at 34 – not 47 – in index of Kenyan senators' performance A message posted on the Kenyan Facebook group page " Team Ruto ", which has more than 200,000 members, claims that Gideon Moi , the senator of Baringo county, was ranked the worst performer in a recent survey of county governments. "Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has been ranked numb (Source: Africa Check)

Do prisoners have ac...: Do prisoners have access to better medical facilities than the public? Prisoners in South Africa have access to better healthcare services than the general public, the Deputy Minister of Correctional Services, Thabang Makwetla, recently claimed . "You find that there is (sic) better medical facilities given from government in prison than out there," (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: Yes, uncanny blob of radioactive black lava is real, but won't kill instantly "The photo above is the closest humanity has ever come to creating Medusa. If you were to look at this, you would die instantly," begins the lengthy text in a graphic posted on Facebook on 17 February 2022. Medusa is a monstrous female figure in Greek mythology who had a head of  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, how often you have sex does not change the 'tightness' of your vagina IN SHORT: A post on Facebook warning women not to have sex too often as it will change the shape or "tightness" of the vagina is misleading. There is no evidence that sex causes a "loosening" of the vagina. A warning that women can't "compete" with men in terms of how often they  (Source: Africa Check)

No, farts don't prev...: No, farts don't prevent disease and dementia Farting can lengthen your life and protect your brain, claims a meme circulating on Facebook in Nigeria since May 2016 . "According to a new British study, passing gas may help you live longer and, in a surprise twist, smelling gas might prevent dementia," it reads beneath a cart (Source: Africa Check)

No, Somali American...: No, Somali American (and Muslim) US congresswoman didn't say 'all white men should be put in chains' "I am America's hope and the president's nightmare. I think all white men should be put in chains as slaves because they will never submit to Islam." A meme attributing this quote to new US member of congress Ilhan Omar has been doing the rounds on Facebook – even in South Africa (Source: Africa Check)

No, your car's fuel...: No, your car's fuel tank won't explode in hot weather, even if it's full It's summertime in South Africa – and your car could explode. That's the claim in a meme shared on Facebook in South Africa in November 2018. It warns : "Due to increase in temperature in the coming days, please don't fill petrol to the maximum limit. It may cause explosion in th (Source: Africa Check)

Hoax alert! Anti-che...: Hoax alert! Anti-cheating 'Commit-Tech' genital implant doesn't exist A Now 8 News article shared 44,500 times on Facebook claims the new "Commit-Tech" genital implant will alert people via phone if their partner cheats. A screenshot of the claim is also on Facebook. The headline "New penis implant will alert your cell phone when your man is cheati (Source: Africa Check)

Rigakafin Covid-19 b...: Rigakafin Covid-19 ba zata sauya kwayoyin halitta dan adam na DNA ba. Wani rubutu da ke yawo a Facebook a Afrika ta Kudu na cewa tsoron da ake na cewa rigakafin cutar Covid-19 zata sauya ƙwayoyin halittar ɗan adam na DNA gaskiya ne. Rubutun na cewa: " Abun tsoron shine ba cewa rigakafin zata hallaka mutane ba, abun tsoron shine rigakafin zata zo ɗa (Source: Africa Check)

#WorldWaterDay: 10 f...: #WorldWaterDay: 10 facts - some surprising - about Africa's water In 2019, World Water Day is focusing on the reasons why so many people still do not have safe water. To mark this day, we're sharing some facts about water in Africa that we've learned from our work in recent years: 1. In 2018, some 319 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa did no (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Citizen TV's Francis Gachuri not running for Kenyan parliament A poster was shared on Facebook with a photo of Kenyan Citizen TV's political editor Francis Gachuri . It suggests he is campaigning for a parliamentary seat in Kiambaa constituency, just northwest of Nairobi. The poster appeared online following the death of member of parliament (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence ram test...: No evidence ram tested positive for Covid-19 in northern Nigeria "Breaking news! Ram tested positive for Coronavirus in Niger State," says a post shared on Facebook on 12 July 2020. The post shows a photo of a ram – a male goat – with its legs tied together, receiving an intravenous infusion. Niger state is in Nigeria's North Central geopoliti (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, doctors have not discovered link between Covid vaccines and abnormal blood 'stacking' A number of posts on Facebook and articles shared to the platform include a graphic of what appear to microscope images of red blood cells. Above the images in the graphic is the claim "German Doctor Finds Vaxxed Blood Shows Signs of 'Stacking', Typical of Blood Cancers". The gra (Source: Africa Check)

False: Before and after photos of conjoined twins US politician Ben Carson separated? No, photos unrelated Two photos posted on Facebook seem to tell an amazing story. The first shows two crying babies conjoined at the head, while the second is of two smiling but separate identical young men. "THE CONJOINED TWINS, Separated by Dr Ben Carson in 1987. A word to honour him," the caption  (Source: Africa Check)

Pakistani man senten...: Pakistani man sentenced to death for farting in mosque during Ramadan? No, fictional story is satire As Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan, an article going viral on Facebook reports reports that a man in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for farting in a mosque during this holy period. "The judge declared that he had indisposed people of the faith and even caused 53 p (Source: Africa Check)

False: Viral photos do not show Kenyan telco Airtel Kenya offices on fire IN SHORT: Photos of smoke appearing to billow from the headquarters of one of Kenya's biggest telecoms companies had social media atwitter. But Airtel Kenya was quick to respond that the fire was next door, and contained, not in their building in Nairobi. Photos doing the rounds  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Vergeet 'Global Warming'? Suidelike Afrika se paar koue dae in Julie is nie bewyse teen klimaatverandering nie Read this report in English . "Vergeet 'Global Warming' – Suider Afrika Beleef die Koudste Julie Ooit met Moontlike Sneeu op Tafelberg!" lees die opskrif van 'n Afrikaanse artikel op die Suid-Afrikaanse webtuiste Nuus.net. Die artikel gee verskeie voorbeelde van vriesende tempera (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigerian politic...: No, Nigerian politician Ajimobi didn't recover from Covid-19 A Facebook post claims Nigerian politician Abiola Ajimobi recovered from Covid-19 and was discharged from the intensive care unit. Ajimobi , a former senator and former governor of Oyo state , was a chieftain of Nigeria's ruling All Progressives Congress . The post uploaded on 22 (Source: Africa Check)

No, FBI hasn't arres...: No, FBI hasn't arrested Bill Gates for 'biological terrorism' Disclosure: The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of Africa Check's funders, providing 11% of our income in 2019 . "FBI Arrests Bill Gate For Biological Terrorism," reads the headline of a 13 May 2020 article on the Nigerian blog Southern Dailies . "Billionaire founder of  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Ignore fake Kenyan TV graphic – Kenyan deputy president did not cut short US, UK March 2022 trip A graphic posted on Facebook on 6 March 2022 claimed that Kenyan deputy president William Ruto cut short a 10-day trip to the United States and the United Kingdom. Text in the graphic reads: "Sources indicate that DP Ruto is expected back in the country today after being advised  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, new lockdown in...: Yes, new lockdown in Madagascar's capital after Covid-19 'surge' In April 2020 Madagascar's president Andry Rajoelina launched Covid-Organics, a herbal remedy he claimed could cure Covid-19 . There is no evidence that it does. Now, according to news reports posted on Facebook , the African island country has had to impose a new lockdown due to (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, all Kenyans can borrow from 'hustler fund' – not only those who voted for president Ruto IN SHORT : Is Kenya's "hustler fund" meant to provide cheap loans only for supporters of newly elected president William Ruto? No, the claims on social media are false. A Facebook post published on 30 November 2022 claims that Kenyans who voted for the opposition in August's gene (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, EU delegation didn't warn Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine against swearing himself in as president The European Union delegation in Uganda has warned opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi , known as Bobi Wine , against swearing himself in as president of the country. At least, that's according to a letter posted on Facebook on 30 April. The letter carries the EU emblem , is  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, rapper Eminem didn't buy a fake NFT for US$450,000 "JUST IN: Eminem's NFT turned out to be FAKE" begins a widely shared tweet about the rapper Marshall Mathers, better known by the stage name Eminem. The tweet , which has also been shared tens of thousands of times as a screenshot on Facebook , includes a photo of the musician an (Source: Africa Check)

Babu wata cikakkiyar...: Babu wata cikakkiyar hujjar cewa jiƙaƙƙen ganyen mangwaro na taimakawa masu cutar suga nau'i na biyu Wani saƙo da ke yawo a Facebook a Najeriya na iƙirarin cewa za a iya amfani da  ganyen mangwaro don kula da cutar suga nau'i na biyu. Rubutun na Facebook na cewa : " Ganyen Mangwaro na ɗauke da sindarin tanins da antosiyanis waɗanda suke da ikon taimakawa jiki ya samar da sinadar (Source: Africa Check)

Zuma's claim that SA...: Zuma's claim that SA is one of only 12 countries with safe tap water is untrue In a speech welcoming the new heads of diplomatic missions to South Africa this week, President Jacob Zuma claimed South Africa is "one of only 12 countries where tap water is safe to drink throughout the country". This, he said, "is because we spend so much on capturing, storing (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, US comedian Chris Rock was not 'wearing a cheek pad' when hit by actor Will Smith The 94th Academy Awards , better known as the Oscars , were held in Los Angeles in the United States on 27 March 2022. But any news and online discussion about the prestigious film awards focused not on the night's winners but on an incident which took place during the awards cer (Source: Africa Check)

Are SA children olde...: Are SA children older than 12 allowed to have consensual sex, as Daily Sun said? "DAD IS BARELY 15 AND MUM IS JUST 12!" In trademark tabloid style, South Africa's biggest-selling daily newspaper reported last week on the pregnancy of a 12-year-old girl from Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Her parents thought she had been raped before discovering their daug (Source: Africa Check)

No, South Africa's F...: No, South Africa's First National Bank didn't charge reversal fees for accidental deposits A post shared on Facebook and addressed to "all FNB clients" claims South Africa's First National Bank (FNB) is guilty of the "biggest SA scam". It reads : "FNB 'accidentally' deposited R1,000 to 1 million people. They charged R28 per reversal. They made R28 million." System erro (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Claims drinking okra infused water will cure diabetes are 'not true' A message posted on Facebook in Nigeria claims that drinking water steeped with okra will make diabetes disappear quickly. It describes the preparation process and the dosage, ending with: " After 2 weeks of use, appreciate the change in your health ." Diabetes is a chronic metab (Source: Africa Check)

No, photos not of re...: No, photos not of recent Building Bridges rally in Meru, Kenya Photos of overturned chairs and people running have been posted on Facebook with the claim they are of the Building Bridges Initiative rally held on 29 February 2020 in Meru county, eastern Kenya. There were reports of protests at the rally. The first photo shows plastic chairs s (Source: Africa Check)

Missingcontext: No proven health benefits to drinking water from a copper cup A graphic shared on Instagram in Nigeria claims that drinking water from a copper cup "helps" a range of ailments and illnesses, including anaemia and cancer. Anaemia is a condition where the body doesn't produce enough red blood cells . There are many types of anaemia and sympto (Source: Africa Check)

4 questions answered...: 4 questions answered about the testing of instant noodles by the Nigerian Food and Drug Administration after Asia scare After Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (Nafdac) announced that it would test locally made noodles, claims that the popular Indomie brand of noodles had been banned have gone viral online. Nafdac's move on 2 May 2023 followed a recall of Indomie's "specia (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect claim resu...: Incorrect claim resurfaces that SA is one of world's '30 driest countries' A resident of Nongoma, north west of Durban and which has been badly affected by drought, prepares to collect water from a free water point sponsored by concerned citizens in November 2015. Photo: AFP/MUJAHID SAFODIEN In an article on "managing and conserving water more efficient (Source: Africa Check)

Fact-checked: The AN...: Fact-checked: The ANC's 2014 election manifesto promises South Africans have been urged to register to vote ahead of the country's national and provincial elections. Africa Check will be fact-checking claims made in the leading parties' election manifestos. But what about the election promises that were made five years ago? Our promise (Source: Africa Check)

Blood type diet? No...: Blood type diet? No evidence for it, and no explanation why it would work Does your blood group affect the type of food you should eat? Should you change your diet according to whether you are type A, B, AB or O? A Facebook post lays out four different diets, claiming each is suitable for people with a specific blood group. " Choose a diet based on you (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Beware scam website offering cut-price sugar from Kenyan company Kabras A link to a website offering low-cost bulk sugar from Kenyan sugar company Kabras has been circulating on Facebook . A graphic in the post reads : "SEPECIAL OFFER 1Kg X20 Pcs – 1600/- 2KgX 10Pcs -1600/- 50Kg Bag – 4000/- FREE DELIVERY COUNTRYWIDE." The website – kabrassugarke.com (Source: Africa Check)

USAID head overshoot...: USAID head overshoots gains on getting more kids into school The new head of the U.S. Agency for International Development Gayle Smith gave policymakers a first look at her vision of what USAID should be doing. In a speech on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., she listed a number of fronts where America's foreign assistance has helped lead t (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Kenya Wildlife Service didn't warn of stray leopard in Murang'a county – fake statement could discourage voters "LEOPARD IN MURANGA SIGHTING," reads the subject line on what appears to be a press release by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), circulating on Facebook. KWS is a state agency tasked with managing the country's national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas. The documen (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, baking soda is not a miracle cure that treats cancer and kills viruses A viral Facebook message claims, in Afrikaans, that simply by taking baking soda every day, "kan jy jou eie liggaam beskerm en selfs jou eie lewe red teen dodelike viruse" – "you can protect your own body and even save your own life from deadly viruses". Baking soda (also called  (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Kenyan actor Ogana can boost your Fuliza loan limit? No, Facebook page a scam IN SHORT : Brian Ogana, the star of the popular Kenyan TV drama Maria, has hundreds of thousands of Facebook followers. He has no reason to run another Facebook page offering dodgy mobile money loan extensions. The Facebook page " Luwi Hausa Ogana " is offering to boost the borro (Source: Africa Check)

Wife of Bauchi state...: Wife of Bauchi state governor in Nigeria donated much more than water Posts shared across social media in Nigeria, on Facebook and Twitter , mock the wife of a state governor for donating water to "empower" women. Most of the posts show a photo of a crowd of people, many wearing face masks, standing beside bundles of what appear to be plastic sache (Source: Africa Check)

No, LGBTQ people in...: No, LGBTQ people in US haven't demanded 'first' treatment for Covid-19 Are you looking for accurate information on the novel coronavirus pandemic? We've put all our fact-checks in one place. Read our Live Guide . "LGBTQ Demanding to Be Treated FIRST for Coronavirus (Because They're So Disease-Ridden Already)," reads the headline of a 14 March 2020 a (Source: Africa Check)

South African women...: South African women not more likely to be raped than to learn how to read Is a woman in South Africa really more likely to be raped than to learn how to read? It is a recurring claim and one that dates back as far as 2002 . Over the years it has been cited by a variety of news organisations and websites including the SABC and News24 , The Guardian and  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, the bumblebee h...: Yes, the bumblebee has been added to a list of endangered species "Bumblebee has officially been added to the ever-growing list of endangered species," reads the headline of an article o n the website Healthy Food House and posted to Facebook . Is this true? A Facebook user thought it wasn't, and flagged it as possibly false under the social ne (Source: Africa Check)

Free motorbikes from...: Free motorbikes from Kenyan lawmaker? No, offer from imposter Facebook account Kenyan politician Gladys Shollei , member of the national assembly for Uasin Gishu county, is giving away 100 motorbikes "to encourage self-employment to the young generation". At least, that's according to two messages posted on the Facebook page " Hon Gladys Shollei " in mid-Au (Source: Africa Check)

Scam alert! Nairobi...: Scam alert! Nairobi governor Sonko not 'giving' loans, motorbikes and school fees to Kenyans on Facebook Mike Sonko, governor of Kenya's Nairobi city county, is known for both his flamboyance and his generosity, in the capital and other parts of the country. But is he also "giving loans" to the people of Kenya? In January 2019 the Facebook page Mike Sonko Loans 2019 posted an offer. (Source: Africa Check)

'Every single person...: 'Every single person with cancer has pH that's too acidic'? Meme gets old science backwards Does "every single person" suffering from cancer have "a pH that is too acidic"? This startling claim is made on a meme circulating on Facebook in South Africa. The meme includes a graphic with an arrow pointing to "acidic" labelled "illnesses", and an arrow pointing to "alkaline (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, people vaccinated against Covid-19 don't develop Aids – claim peddled by known false-information website IN SHORT: In early 2023 a familiar anti-vaxx rumour started spreading on social media again, claiming that people vaccinated against Covid-19 were developing "Aids-like symptoms". But there's – still – no evidence for this. "German Gov't Bombshell: 'Alarming Number of Vaccinated  (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, 44% of pregnant women didn't miscarry in Pfizer Covid vaccine trial – inaccurate calculation retracted "44% of pregnant women in Pfizer trial lost their babies", reads a post circulating on Facebook. Other instances of the post have received attention online (like here , here and here ), including a tweet that has been liked more than 12,400 times. The posts include screenshots of (Source: Africa Check)

No, photo shows Nair...: No, photo shows Nairobi county towing Kenya Power car in 2018 – not power utility repossessing clamped vehicle in 2021 A photo of a car belonging to Kenyan state-owned electricity utility Kenya Power (KPLC) being loaded onto a flatbed truck started attracting social media attention in November 2021. It's doing the rounds on Facebook with the claim it shows a tit-for-tat game in which KPLC forcefu (Source: Africa Check)

Huge crowd greeting...: Huge crowd greeting Kenya's deputy president? No, fans at 1973 rock concert in US Politicians and their supporters in Kenya, as in many other countries, often use large crowds at rallies as evidence of their popularity. On 6 July 2019, during deputy president William Ruto's visit to Migori County, a Facebook user posted a photo of a massive crowd. He wrote : " (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Pfizer CEO got Covid vaccine – and old video clip out of context "PFIZER CEO HAS NOT YET HAD VACCINE." That's the all-caps static text at the top of a TikTok video posted on Facebook in South Africa on 14 August 2021. The footage show 30 seconds of an interview with Albert Bourla , chief executive and chair of US drug company Pfizer . The Pfiz (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, TikTok video of Norwegian King's Guard, not South Africa state president's army 'in 1969' In a video posted on TikTok and Facebook , a group of men in military uniform perform an impressive parade-ground marching drill. Text in the video claims that this is the "South-Africa state presidents army in 1969". But it shows none of those things. Some basic analysis reveals (Source: Africa Check)

Slices of onion on f...: Slices of onion on feet 'cure diseases overnight'? Old folk remedy is incorrect An article on the site Best Folk Medicine , posted on Facebook on 3 April 2019, claims bits of raw onion worn in socks while you sleep will "cure your diseases overnight". It says putting slices of onion on your feet is one of "the most popular ancient remedies". "According to fo (Source: Africa Check)

Beware! Kenyan Hudum...: Beware! Kenyan Huduma Namba 'online application' charging KSh200 fee is a scam On 2 April 2019 Kenya officially launched the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), commonly known as Huduma Namba. The biometric system will capture and manage information on citizens and other people living in Kenya. The programme will help citizens access gov (Source: Africa Check)

No, Pope Francis not...: No, Pope Francis not cancelling Bible Pope Francis , the global head of the Catholic church, has "cancelled the Bible and proposes to create a new book", claim several messages shared on Facebook and WhatsApp. The claim dates back to at least April 2018 . In July 2020, a Kenyan website published an article headlined  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, all bike stunts...: Yes, all bike stunts in short film Danny MacAskill's Gymnasium are real A man signs up at a gym at the beginning of the year, but instead of taking up a spinning class or weightlifting, he uses the gym equipment to perform amazing stunts on his bicycle. This is the premise of a short film called Danny MacAskill's Gymnasium. It has been shared on Face (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nairobi's iconic Hilton Hotel building not bought by Pronto Restaurant IN SHORT: In recent weeks a claim that the premises belonging to the landmark hotel in the Kenyan capital have been bought by a restaurant chain have travelled quickly on social media. But the image used as evidence has been manipulated. Located in the middle of Nairobi's central (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, video of large crowd on major Nairobi highway is from August 2022, not Kenyan opposition protests in March 2023 I N SHORT: Videos of demonstrations in Kenya on 20 March 2023 have been circulating on social media, but not all of them are related to the actual event. A video of a large crowd on a major highway has been circulating on social media, claiming to show protesters during the oppos (Source: Africa Check)

Crystallised old dic...: Crystallised old dictionary, not 'bible found at bottom of ocean' A photo of a book covered in white crystals has been posted on Facebook with a claim that it shows a miracle. The caption reads : "An ancient bible has been found at the bottom of the ocean and is still Readable! Type Amen and share this Miracle." It was shared on a Kenyan Facebo (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenya's Kisii county accuses boda boda taxi drivers of torching deputy governor's car? No, letter fake What seems to be a letter from Kenya's Kisii county government , posted on Facebook, accuses boda boda motorbike taxi drivers of burning the official car of deputy county governor Joash Maangi. It suggests that the arson was in support of deputy president William Ruto . The vehic (Source: Africa Check)

Man escaping police...: Man escaping police in video not Usain Bolt A video has been shared on Facebook in Nigeria with the claim it shows Jamaican sprinter and Olympic world-record holder Usain Bolt being arrested during a protest. In the video, a handcuffed man wearing a face mask is led to a police van by heavily armed officers. But before he' (Source: Africa Check)

Photo of bees 'recov...: Photo of bees 'recovering stolen car' snapped in Wales, not Kenya Did a swarm of bees magically recover a stolen car in Kenya? In March 2019 a Facebook user posted a photo showing a mass of bees clinging to the back of a car. "Thank you renowned Daktari Nyuki for recovering my Toyota Mark X which was stolen by Raila supporters," the user wrote  (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigeria's Oby Ez...: No, Nigeria's Oby Ezekwesili didn't say Chibok kidnapping and #BringBackOurGirls 'planned' to help Buhari beat Jonathan in 2015 election Dr Oby Ezekwesili , a prominent Nigerian academic and politician who has worked at a high level with the World Bank and Transparency International, says the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of 276 school girls in Chibok – and the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to free them – was " planned (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, governor of Nigeria's Rivers state hasn't set up a 'marriage monitoring team' " Marrying in Rivers State without having up to N5million is illegal," begins a message doing the rounds on Facebook in Nigeria. N is the Nigerian naira . The message claims that Nyesom Wike , the governor of Rivers state in the Delta region of Nigeria's far southeast, has set up (Source: Africa Check)

No, photo of tiny ch...: No, photo of tiny chickadee sculpture – not the zunzuncito, the world's smallest bird A meme shared on Facebook in December 2019 claims to show the world's smallest bird. A photo appears to show a tiny grey, white and black bird, sitting on a person's index finger. The caption says: "The Zunzuncito is the smallest bird in the world. It is also called fly bird, elf (Source: Africa Check)

Can dates really cur...: Can dates really cure cancer? The claim is nothing but dangerous quackery Can dates cure abdominal cancer more effectively than medicine and without side effects? This was the claim made in a recent article published by South Africa's Sowetan newspaper which listed ten "simple benefits" of eating dates, including increased sexual stamina, the treatment (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, volcanic eruptions don't put more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than human activities IN SHORT: Posts on social media, perhaps as an attempted "gotcha" to those worried about climate change, claim an erupting volcano can put more carbon dioxide into Earth's atmosphere in 24 hours than humans have in all of human existence. But this is false. A series of social med (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "County governments have allocated on average 6.7 % of their total budgets to the agriculture sector." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "This is just 3% less of the 10% recommended allocation [for agriculture] as per the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Malabo declaration." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "We experienced an increase in the number of functional health facilities growing from 9,858 to 10,820 in 2018 across all counties. In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "For the year under review all County Governments allocated out of their budgets at least 20% to health." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "Since 2013, County Governments have cumulatively received KSh1.57 trillion worth of equitable share of allocation." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: KSh1.57 trillion is equivalent to 20% of the total shareable revenue of 7.8 trillion shillings." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The average development allocation by counties over the last six financial years has been 40% surpassing the legal requirement of at least 30%." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: So far, each of the 47 counties has met the two-thirds threshold on the appointment of the county executive committee members, with three counties of Kilifi, Nyeri and Kericho attaining a 50-50 representation." In his 2019 State of Devolution Address, council of governors chair Wycliffe Oparanya made three claims on revenue allocation to counties, two claims each on healthcare and agriculture, and a claim on gender equality in county governments. Two of the claims on revenue were correc (Source: Africa Check)

'Biafran Airlines' p...: 'Biafran Airlines' plane? No, photo of Lufthansa Airbus T he Indigenous Peoples of Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu has commissioned Biafran Airlines from Israel, claims a n article on the Biafra Star website. Biafra is a region in south-eastern Nigeria. Its secession in 1967 sparked a civil war, and calls for its independence from sympathis (Source: Africa Check)

Girl Confronts Soldier False: No, 10-year-old photos don't show Ukrainian girl confronting Russian soldier in 2022 Three photos that seem to show a young girl shouting at a soldier starting doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa in late February 2022, soon after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine . "WHAT A BRAVE LITTLE WOMAN," the caption reads. "An 8 year Ukrainian girl c (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: KTN News reports Kenyan doctor 'in danger' for inventing hypertension cure? No, clumsy video fake IN SHORT : A video claims that a Kenyan doctor has invented a cure for high blood pressure and is so, for an unexplained reason, in danger. The video includes the logo of KTN News and a clip of anchor Ali Manzu. But the channel – and Manzu – never reported this "news". A 10-secon (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South Africa's...: Yes, South Africa's president warned 'worst' of coronavirus 'still coming' "RAMAPHOSA: THE WORST IS STILL COMING!" reads the headline of a 5 May 2020 article in the Daily Sun. The article was posted on Facebook , where it was flagged as possibly false. But president Cyril Ramaphosa did say that the worst of the Covid-19 outbreak was still coming to Sout (Source: Africa Check)

Do SA, Nigeria have...: Do SA, Nigeria have fewer cardiologists for their populations than Senegal? During commemorations for World Heart Day last year, a leading Senegalese doctor said the West African country has more heart specialists per population than two of Africa's leading economies. "We have 80 cardiologists, so one cardiologist for 150,000 people. We are doing better  (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "The percentage of households that are connected to electricity supply increased from 69.7% in 2001 to 86% in 2014. This amounted to over 5.8 million households in 2014." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "...figures show that 2,048,052 households benefited from indigent support systems for electricity in 2014." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "Between 2001 and 2014, the percentage of households with access to piped water increased from 61.3% in 2001 to 90% in 2014." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The proportion of households benefiting from free basic water services increased dramatically between 2007 and 2013. Households receiving free basic water services increased from 7,225,287 in 2007 to 11,794,526 in 2013." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Between 2002 and 2014, the ANC government increased access to basic sanitation services from 62.3% to 79.5%." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "In 2001, 55.4% of households had access to refuse removal and collection. By 2012, households having access to these services increased by 7.1% to reach 62.5% and further increased to 64% in 2014." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Average life expectancy increased from 53.4 years in 2004 to 62.5 years in 2015." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "...in 2002, the infant mortality rate was 51.2 babies per 1,000 live births. In 2015, infant mortality rate decreased to 34.4 deaths per 1,000 live births." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Between 2004 and 2014, the EPWP created over 5 million work opportunities for poor and unemployed people." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Of the target of 6 million between 2014 and 2019, 1.24 million work opportunities were already created by the end of March 2015. This figure surpassed the target of 1.04 million for that period. This is [a] 119% achievement." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Most importantly, the EPWP has surpassed its target of 55% and 40% for women and youth respectively, with 60% of participants being women and 50% being youth." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "Expanded community works programmes from 45 municipalities in 2011 to 196 in 2015 and increased the number of participants from 100,000 to more than 200,000." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "We have provided about 3.7 million subsidised housing opportunities and thereby giving a home to about 12.5 million South Africans!" The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Upgraded 95,000 households in informal settlements." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "The ANC government initiated investigations into 203 corruption cases involving 1,065 persons. A total of 234 government officials were convicted for corruption related offences since 2014." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Freezing orders to the value of R601 million were obtained by the end of the third quarter of the 2015/16 financial year. This means that government has recovered a total of R4.21 billion since 2009." The African National Congress' 32-page local government election manifesto is titled "Together advancing people's power in every community: Local government is in your hands". In the foreword, President Jacob Zuma wrote that the "ANC remains best placed, together with the people, (Source: Africa Check)

'Avoid Kenyans' beca...: 'Avoid Kenyans' because of coronavirus? No, southern African newspaper headline photoshopped What looks like a front page of the Southern Times newspaper is circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp in Kenya. The headline reads: "Avoid Kenyans at all costs." Text below the headline refers to the Covid-19 outbreak in Kenya: "Wit rising COVID-19 cases and individuals who avoid  (Source: Africa Check)

Keyamofalse: Babu hujjar da ta tabbatar cewa jam'iyya mai mulki a Najeriya APC na shirin hana ƴan arewa damar amfani da yanar gizo da rediyo, bayan da tsohon shugaban ƙasa ya marawa ɗan adawa baya A TAƘAICE : Tsohon shugaban ƙasar Najeriya mai faɗa a aji Olusegun Obasanjo ya marawa Peter Obi baya a matsayin ɗan takarar sa a zaɓe mai zuwa. Yanzu kuma wasu kalamai na ƙarya sun yanke cewa jam'iyya mai mulki APC na son taƙaita amfani da ababen watsa labarai a wajen da suke da  (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Youth unemployment [in South Africa] is amongst the highest in the world. South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The country's national and provincial elections will be held on 8 May. Taglined "one South Africa for all", the manifesto contains a number (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: 50% of all new jobs in South Africa, in the past year, were created in the Western Cape. South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The country's national and provincial elections will be held on 8 May. Taglined "one South Africa for all", the manifesto contains a number (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: South Africa has a ratio of 1 clinic to 16,971 people, as opposed to the guideline of 1:10,000. South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The country's national and provincial elections will be held on 8 May. Taglined "one South Africa for all", the manifesto contains a number (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: The national government's failure rate of land reform projects is currently standing at 92%. South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The country's national and provincial elections will be held on 8 May. Taglined "one South Africa for all", the manifesto contains a number (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: The Western Cape's land reform audit found that the provincial government's pioneering commodity approach, and through innovative solutions like the share equity schemes, had led to the success of 62% of all land reform farms in the Western Cape. South Africa's official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), launched its election manifesto in Johannesburg on 23 February 2019. The country's national and provincial elections will be held on 8 May. Taglined "one South Africa for all", the manifesto contains a number (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Kenyan officials have for the last 20 years claimed that one-third of revenues is going to be stolen." The claim that a third of Kenya's tax revenues will be stolen caused a furore when quoted by former president Uhuru Kenyatta in early 2021, but it can be traced back to 2003 in the Kenyan parliament and has been repeated frequently since then. Such a claim can't be proven, though (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The amount of revenue collected by the Kenya Revenue Authority is more than the amount of revenue collected by Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi combined." The claim that a third of Kenya's tax revenues will be stolen caused a furore when quoted by former president Uhuru Kenyatta in early 2021, but it can be traced back to 2003 in the Kenyan parliament and has been repeated frequently since then. Such a claim can't be proven, though (Source: Africa Check)

False Rdp Housing Claim: No South Africa, you can't apply for government housing through dodgy link on Facebook – rather visit local municipality IN SHORT: Several South African Facebook posts have made incorrect claims about who is able to apply for government-subsidised "RDP" housing, and how to do so. Government spokespeople have warned readers that the posts and the information in them are false. "RDP houses are free s (Source: Africa Check)

BCG vaccine used in...: BCG vaccine used in Africa could reduce symptoms, but not 'cure' or 'vaccine' for Covid-19 "Has Africa had the cure all along?" asks a 5 April 2019 Facebook post by a South African radio presenter. The post claims that a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine used in some African countries is being considered as "a possible vaccine" for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 . "Don't (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Beware of fake opinion poll on Kenya's Kakamega county governor race A graphic shared in a number of Facebook groups in Kenya appears to show the most popular candidates for governor in Kakamega county, ahead of the country's August 2022 general elections. The graphic is branded with the logo of Mizani Africa , a Kenyan research firm . The graphic (Source: Africa Check)

Yi watsi da saƙon Fa...: Yi watsi da saƙon Facebook da ke cewa, gane cutar sikari, Alzheimer's, cutar Parkinson's, cutar Covid-19 da ma wasu cututtakan da kan ku " Jama'a ga magani na asali," abun da ke jikin wani hoto da ke yawo a Facebook a Najeriya a watan Nuwambar 2020. Hoton na ƙunshe da da'awa da dama akan yadda mutum zai gane yana ɗauke da wasu cututtaka. Rubutun na cewa: " ku je kan bishiya ku ƙwararo fitsari, idan fitasarin ya ja (Source: Africa Check)

This is a former sla...: This is a former slave, but he didn't invent toilet paper "Meet Hezekiah Walker, former slave and inventor," reads text in a graphic posted on Facebook in Tanzania. It shows a black and white photo of an elderly man sitting in a chair, holding a hat, with a walking stick resting on his leg. "He was the black man who invented the toilet  (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu didn't promise to release pro-Biafra leader Nnamdi Kanu to the Igbo people if re-elected IN SHORT: Ahead of Nigeria's governorship elections on 18 March 2023, social media posts are claiming that the Lagos governor has promised Igbos in the state that he will release Biafran secessionist leader Nnamdi Kanu if re-elected. But this is false. A post circulating on Faceb (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, face masks don't cause brain damage, pneumonia or organ failure A graphic that has been viewed over 4 million times since it was posted on Facebook on 8 January 2021 claims that face masks worn to slow the spread of Covid-19 cause brain damage and bacterial pneumonia, and starve your body and its organs of oxygen. It includes a photo of a new (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, highly processed 'art' image – not Nasa's most clear photo of the sun "Take a breath Cuz you're looking at the most clear picture of the Sun's surface," reads a message posted on Facebook in South Africa. It includes an image of what appears to be a sun or planet, which it credits to Nasa – the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration . The (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: In the third quarter of 2020, the economy was 6% smaller than it was in the third quarter of 2019. Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: There were 1.7 million fewer people employed in the third quarter of 2020 than there were in the first quarter. Our unemployment rate stands at a staggering 30.8%. Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "A total of 18 million people … received additional grant payments." Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Understated: "Through the implementation of the poultry master plan the industry has invested R800 million to upgrade production. South Africa now produces an additional 1 million chickens every week." Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "By the end of January 2021, over 430,000 opportunities have already been supported through the [Presidential Employment Stimulus]. A further 180,000 opportunities are currently in the recruitment process." Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Eskom is the "largest greenhouse gas emitter" in South Africa. Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "In 2020, [South Africa] became the world's second-largest exporter of citrus." Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "To date government has redistributed over 5 million hectares of land …" Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: 2.7 million hectares has been transferred through the land restitution process. Ramaphosa didn't shy away from economic realities, correctly claiming the unemployment rate has reached a "staggering" 30.8% and that the economy shrunk by 6% over most of 2020. The president was also correct that his employment stimulus programme has supported over 430,000 oppor (Source: Africa Check)

LOL stands for 'Luci...: LOL stands for 'Lucifer our lord'? Hoax meme has us laughing out loud! A meme circulating on Facebook in a number of African countries claims LOL , the common online abbreviation of "laughing out loud", actually stands for " Lucifer our lord ". Telling users to " beware ", the meme declares : "Stop using the abbreviation 'LOL'. 'LOL' stands for 'Luc (Source: Africa Check)

Badly photoshopped i...: Badly photoshopped image not Steve Hofmeyr with woman wearing old South African flag A South African Facebook post from March 2019 shows a photo of what seems to be controversial Afrikaans musician and actor Steve Hofmeyr standing next to a black woman wearing a dress patterned like the apartheid-era South African flag . Hofmeyr describes himself as a "nationalis (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's Star newspap...: Kenya's Star newspaper headline 'Kuria and Farouk showdown' photoshopped "Mose Kuria and Farouk showdown." That's the headline on the front page of what appears to be the Star newspaper from 13 August 2020 and shared on Facebook across Kenya. Pictured underneath the headline are the two said to be in conflict: Farouk Kibet, the personal assistant to K (Source: Africa Check)

Quickmart jobs with...: Quickmart jobs with KSh470 'registration fee'? Facebook page uses old scam Looking for a job at Kenya's Quickmart supermarkets? You won't get one on the Facebook page " Quickmart " – and you could lose money. The page uses the well-worn scam of offering people fake jobs and then charging them a registration or application "fee" to apply. It was created  (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's ODM oppositi...: Kenya's ODM opposition party blames deputy president Ruto for Kisumu attack? No, statement fake Kenyan deputy president William Ruto's convoy was attacked in Kisumu county on Lake Victoria on 10 November 2021. Soon after, what appeared to be a statement by the opposition Orange Democratic Movement was posted on Facebook. The statement describes the violence as "pre-planned" (Source: Africa Check)

No, Kobe Bryant's da...: No, Kobe Bryant's daughter Natalia has not died by suicide On 26 January 2020 US basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas in California, together with seven others. He was survived by his wife Vanessa Bryant, their three other daughters, and his parents. Almost a mon (Source: Africa Check)

No confirmed Ebola c...: No confirmed Ebola cases in South Africa A Facebook post circulating in February 2021 claims that South Africa has confirmed its "first three Ebola cases". Ebola is a viral, deadly haemorrhagic fever. According to the World Health Organization , patients begin to show symptoms anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure (Source: Africa Check)

Selling illegal, but...: Selling illegal, but no fine for cigarette possession under South Africa's Covid-19 lockdown Smokers caught by the South African police with black market cigarettes will be fined R1,500. That's the claim in a Facebook post from 15 May 2020 and a WhatsApp voice note Africa Check received. The post shows a front page story in the Daily Voice newspaper about a young man bei (Source: Africa Check)

Are there '100 milli...: Are there '100 million generators in private hands' in Nigeria? During a "special open line" segment on his popular morning radio show, 702 host Bongani Bingwa asked South Africans to suggest solutions to the country's frequent power blackouts instead of "foaming at the mouth". "Nigeria, I'm told, has 100 million generators in private hands," (Source: Africa Check)

No clampdown on Nige...: No clampdown on Nigerians living in Ghana – embassy debunks 'fake news' A message circulating online claims Ghana's government is set to clamp down on Nigerians living in the country without residence permits. It urges Nigerians in Ghana to withdraw their money from Ghanaian banks and mobile banking platforms, "because from next month November 2019 a (Source: Africa Check)

Understated: Kenya's outstanding loans to China total US$6.4 billion. The periodical was correct that China was by far Kenya's largest bilateral creditor, owed nearly five times as much as the next nearest creditor, Japan. The $6.4 billion figure for how much was owed to China was, however, outdated, from September 2019, and approximately $300 mill (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: China is by far Kenya's largest bilateral creditor. The periodical was correct that China was by far Kenya's largest bilateral creditor, owed nearly five times as much as the next nearest creditor, Japan. The $6.4 billion figure for how much was owed to China was, however, outdated, from September 2019, and approximately $300 mill (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: China "accounts for less than 10%" of Kenya's external debt. The periodical was correct that China was by far Kenya's largest bilateral creditor, owed nearly five times as much as the next nearest creditor, Japan. The $6.4 billion figure for how much was owed to China was, however, outdated, from September 2019, and approximately $300 mill (Source: Africa Check)

'Bridge without rive...: 'Bridge without river' built in the Philippines – not for R56m in South Africa A meme posted on Facebook in South Africa shows a bridge on a tarred road spanning ... nothing, it seems. "River to be added later," the text reads. "56 million Rand tender, viva ANC." The ANC is the African National Congress , South Africa's ruling party. Does the photo show a u (Source: Africa Check)

Did US, UK, EU and A...: Did US, UK, EU and AU representatives miss Nigerian President Buhari's inauguration? A message circulating online claims that the United States , United Kingdom , European Union , African Union and most of Nigeria's former heads of government were not represented at the second term inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari on 29 May 2019. It's been posted severa (Source: Africa Check)

48,000 potholes on J...: 48,000 potholes on Johannesburg's roads? That's not nearly the whole story The Moneyweb business news site reported that there were "approximately 48,000 potholes" in Johannesburg roads, according to the Johannesburg Roads Agency. But the city's municipal government estimates there are 100,000 potholes, and the roads agency said it planned to fix nearly (Source: Africa Check)

More than 15 female...: More than 15 female vice-chancellors have led Nigerian universities, but higher education still a man's world In an article on the lack of female leaders in universities, Nigeria's Guardian newspaper said there had not been more than 15 vice-chancellors in the country's higher education history. From available data, media reports and other sources, Africa Check was able to come up with a (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, Kenya's senate...: Yes, Kenya's senate has impeached Kiambu governor Waititu Kenya's senate has impeached Ferdinard Waititu, governor of Kiambu county , claims a 29 January 2020 article published on the site Breaking News and shared on Facebook . "The Senate has impeached Kiambu Governor Ferdinard Waititu from office after the majority of Senators voted t (Source: Africa Check)

False: UDA supporters awaiting Ruto in Kisumu, Kenya? No, photo of crowd in green and yellow snapped in Tanzania, in 2015 Kenya's August 2022 general election is still more than eight months away, but the main contenders for the presidency have been campaigning at political rallies for a while now. Raila Odinga , a former prime minister and today leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement , (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenyan lawyer charged with witness interference pleads guilty at International Criminal Court? No, video altered On 15 February 2022, Kenyan lawyer Paul Gicheru went on trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague , charged with "offences against the administration of justice" by corruptly influencing witnesses in ICC cases to do with the 2007 post-election violence in Kenya (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigeria's G5 opposition governors endorsed presidential candidate Tinubu and dismissed rival Obi's chances IN SHOR T: Nigeria is slated to elect a new president in early 2023. As the campaign season heats up, a message on social media claims an influential group of breakaway opposition governors has backed the governing party candidate. But the governors are yet to pick a side. "PDP G (Source: Africa Check)

False: Burning church in Kenya's Laikipia county in 2021? No, photo snapped in Tanzania in 2016 "BREAKING NEWS!!! Kenya Assemblies Of God (KAG) Church reduced into ashes in Ol Moran, Laikipia County by bandits," reads a caption of a photo posted on Facebook in September 2021. "This is the 2nd KAG to be burned in the country." The blurry photo is of a building engulfed in fl (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigerians not ba...: No, Nigerians not banned from entering US A July 2019 Facebook post claims Nigerians, along with citizens of seven other countries, have been banned from entering the United States. "Nigerians Banned from entering USA, With or without valid visa along with Other 7 Muslim countries... Nice Move By Trump... Till They Recei (Source: Africa Check)

A swing and a miss f...: A swing and a miss for retired cricketer: South Africa's tourism industry employs 740,000 people – not 7.5 million Expressing frustration at job losses under South Africa's Covid-19 lockdown, retired cricketer Pietersen said 7.5 million people were employed in the country's tourism industry. Statistics South Africa's most recent tourism jobs figures are for 2018, when 739,657 were directly em (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: There are reports saying that 5G dosage of radiation is 10,000 times higher than [that of] 3G Nigeria's lawmakers have urged the federal government to delay any planned deployment of 5G wireless technology as they investigate if it has any harmful effects on health. Reacting to the senate's 5 May 2020 decision, Martin Onovo , a presidential candidate in the 2015 elections (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "This thing [5G] is very harsh to people who are very electrosensitive." Nigeria's lawmakers have urged the federal government to delay any planned deployment of 5G wireless technology as they investigate if it has any harmful effects on health. Reacting to the senate's 5 May 2020 decision, Martin Onovo , a presidential candidate in the 2015 elections (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Kenyan first lady Rachel Ruto not giving loans – Facebook page a scam IN SHORT: A Facebook account operating under the name of Kenya's first lady, Rachel Ruto, is offering various loans to users in exchange for their personal details. But this is a fake account and could be trying to scam people. A Facebook account Hon Rechael Chebet Loans claims t (Source: Africa Check)

No new data shows Ke...: No new data shows Kenya unemployment touches 40% A United Nations agency has ranked Kenya as "having the highest unemployment rate in East African region", a popular Kenyan news website reported in August 2018. Tuko claimed that a "recent study" by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) found "the rate is capped at at  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, photo shows chi...: Yes, photo shows child soldiers in Nigeria's Biafran war A black and white photo posted on Facebook shows a young man, little more than a child, looking into the camera as he carries on his back another boy, badly injured. The photo is in a screenshot of what seems to be a post from the Twitter account @NigerianMuseum. The text reads : (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Israel's ex-prime minister Netanyahu hasn't called for Biafra's independence from Nigeria "Biafra is due to stand as a Nation," reads a quote attributed to Israel 's former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu , in a graphic posted on Facebook. The graphic shows a photo of Netanyahu, and a logo reading "BY NEWS" at top left. Biafra was a region that roughly correlates wi (Source: Africa Check)

Vaccines (19)...: Vaccines (19) Priest didn't die from Moderna vaccine, jab doesn't contain aborted foetal tissue A graphic shared on Facebook claims that a Catholic priest died "After Receiving Moderna's COVID Vaccine That Utilizes Aborted Fetal Tissue". It isn't true. Yes, AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine made  (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence UAE has...: No evidence UAE has Nigerian politician Atiku Abubakar on a terror watchlist A Facebook post claims Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria's former vice president, has been put on the United Arab Emirates' terrorism watchlist. The post claims Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the 2019 elections, met "individuals believed to have close links to key lead (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, NBS TV didn't report Ugandan top military commander car was 'shot at' A screenshot of what seems to be a tweet by Ugandan broadcaster NBS Television , reporting an attack on a top military officer in Uganda, was posted on Facebook on 22 August 2021. The tweet reads : "Unconfirmed reports coming in indicate that the new Commander Land Forces, Lt. Ge (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence former Nigerian president Obasanjo warned of looming 'massacre of southerners' A message posted on Facebook quotes Olusegun Obasanjo , a former military ruler and president of Nigeria, as saying the country faces an imminent crisis. "Every Igbo man should get ready of what is to come, Internet will be shut down, get a gun if you can, don't let history repea (Source: Africa Check)

Are 60% of South Afr...: Are 60% of South Africa's R350 social relief grant applicants youth with a tertiary qualification? Not so fast Lindiwe Zulu, South Africa's social development minister, published draft regulations for the R350 social relief of distress grant (SRD) on 14 July 2022. They include new rules on who qualifies. The grant, introduced in May 2020 at the height of the country's Covid-19 lockdown, h (Source: Africa Check)

Margarine isn't one...: Margarine isn't one molecule away from plastic, doesn't share 27 ingredients with paint A meme going around Facebook in South Africa shows a photo of a block of margarine with the caption: "Margarine is one molecule away from plastic; and shares 27 ingredients with paint. Bon Appetit!" It's been shared more than 29,000 times. A single molecule away from plastic? A 2 (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigerian delegation sent to visit senator charged with organ trafficking in UK not arrested for 'supporting Boko Haram' In late June 2022, Nigerian opposition senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu were arrested in the British capital of London and charged with plotting to traffic a teenage boy to the country to harvest his organs . At their hearing, the court was told th (Source: Africa Check)

No, stranded vehicle...: No, stranded vehicles in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – not Texas Was a photo of cars submerged in flash floods taken in Texas, United States? That's the claim in a Facebook post published in Nigeria in July 2019 and shared more than 5,300 times. In the photo , a stretch of submerged cars can be seen. The caption reads: "This is a flood in Texa (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo didn't say Biafra agitation would 'die naturally' if contender Peter Obi became president A post shared on Facebook in Nigeria claims Nigeria's former president Olusegun Obasanjo has said Biafra "agitation" would "die naturally like the Niger Delta agitation" if Peter Obi became the president. Peter Obi is the presidential candidate for the Labour Party in the Nigeria (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, former Twitter CEO Agrawal not arrested for child porn IN SHORT : A dodgy website claimed former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, fired by Elon Musk in October 2022, had been arrested for possessing child porn. But as soon as the website's allegation was fact-checked, it claimed it was just "satire". It's not. This is an example of the "sa (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, presidential campaign council list for Nigeria's APC party hasn't been published A post shared on Facebook in Nigeria lists 19 names it says are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential campaign council for the country's 2023 general elections. It reads: "APC unveils Presidential Campaign Council for 2023 election, excludes Vice President,Ye (Source: Africa Check)

False: Beware of jobs advertised by Facebook page Jobs Updates IN SHORT: A Facebook page lists dozens of employment opportunities across South Africa. But it's not authorised to advertise the jobs and job seekers should be careful of job scams which may be attempting to steal personal information. The Facebook page Jobs Updates has advertise (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Yes, massive water 'cloud' in space holds 140 trillion times all the water in Earth's oceans A graphic shared on Facebook in South Africa says "there is a water Reservoir floating in space which is equivalent to 140 trillion times all the water in the world's oceans". The graphic was shared 39,000 times in just 24 hours, but flagged as possibly false by Meta's fact-check (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's deputy presi...: Kenya's deputy president 'chased like dog' from Kisii? No, photo of 2007 attack A photo of Kenya's deputy president William Ruto with a torn trouser leg exposing a bloodied knee was posted on Facebook on 10 September 2020. Shoeless, with black socks on his feet, Ruto is surrounded by a group of people, one holding his arm. "DP Ruto was earlier today chased l (Source: Africa Check)

Visa: Ƙasar Canada bata bada muhalli ƙyauta ga baƙin haure "Ɗaukar ma'aikatan gwamnatin Canada na shekarar 2022," kanun wani saƙo da ke yawo a WhatsApp a Najeriya. An watsa saƙon a wasu shafukan kafar sada zumunta ta Facebook ma. Saƙon ya haɗa da link ga wanda ke buƙatar komawa zama ƙasar Canada. Sannan saƙon ya umarci masu so dasu kasan (Source: Africa Check)

Newspaper headline l...: Newspaper headline linking Kenya's deputy president to 'cattle rustling' is fake An image that appears to show the front page of Kenya's Star newspaper has been receiving a great deal of attention on social media. It reports that the country's deputy president, William Ruto, has links to cattle rustling. The headline is: "The Ruto, KMC, cattle rustling link". (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Senator Malala never graduated? Viral statement from Kenyan university fake The academic qualifications of Cleophas Malala, senator for Kenya's Kakamega county, have been the subject of recent controversy. He was forced to apologise after he claimed on 24 May 2022 that the police didn't necessarily need a higher education, but just "two hands and legs" t (Source: Africa Check)

No, testicles of men...: No, testicles of men in birth control trial didn't explode during sex "Male birth control testing stopped after men's testicles start exploding in India," claims an article on a news aggregation site that's been shared thousands of times on Facebook . The article comes from the site Face of Malawi . "Male birth control testing has been halted in In (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, report found 'n...: Yes, report found 'no single HIV-positive case' in Kenya's Garissa county "No single HIV positive case in Garissa as Homa Bay tops with 19.6% – report," claims a post on the Facebook page of Kenya's Citizen TV channel. It links to a 20 February 2020 Citizen TV article that says a "new report has revealed that Garissa County has <0.1% HIV prevalence". G (Source: Africa Check)

Another scam Faceboo...: Another scam Facebook post using South Africa's Covid-19 social relief grant A message posted on Facebook on 17 June 2020 claims applications for the R350 unemployment grant from the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) are now open. It links to a website where people can get "more information". Facebook users are also asked to comment on the post (Source: Africa Check)

Kenyan politician a...: Kenyan politician a 'spy' for the president? No, the Star front page doctored The headline on what seems to be the 22 to 24 January 2021 edition of Kenya's the Star newspaper, posted on Facebook, suggests that senator Samson Cherargei has accused fellow politician Moses Kuria of being a spy for president Uhuru Kenyatta. "Cherargei: Kuria is Uhuru's spy," i (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Overall, the economy is estimated to have expanded by 7.6% in 2021, a much stronger level from the contraction of 0.3% in 2020." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The economy has grown by 155% from the value of KSh5.3 trillion in 2013 to KSh13.5 trillion in 2022." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Cumulatively 5.1 million new jobs in both formal and informal sectors were created since 2013." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The average annual inflation rate declined from 7.2% in 2013 to 5.7% in 2021." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "Annual diaspora remittances grew by close to 300% from KSh112.3 billion in 2013 to the current KSh436.8 billion in 2022." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Ordinary revenue collection has more than doubled from KSh0.8 trillion [KSh800 billion] in the financial year 2012/13 to Ksh1.8 trillion in the financial year 2020/21." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The poverty prevalence rate declined from 36.1% in 2013 to 33.6 % in 2019." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The ratio of police to citizens [rose] from one policeman to 1,000 citizens in 2012 to the current one policeman to 462 citizens". The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The government tripled power generation from 1,300 MW to the current 3,900 MW". The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: "Of this, 73% is from green sources, thus consolidating Kenya's lead in generation of green energy in Africa." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: "The government has issued over 5.3 million title deeds over the last eight years." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The earnings from the tourism sector had increased by 74% from KSh94 billion in 2013 to KSh163.6 billion in 2019." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "The hospital bed capacity increased from 56,069 in 2013 to 82,291 in 2020." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The number of primary schools increased from 26,549 to 32,437 and secondary schools from 7,174 to 10,413 between 2012 and 2020." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: The transition rate from primary to secondary schools moved from 64.5% in 2012 to the current 100%. The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Kenya has an estimated per capita income of Ksh244,099 in 2021. This is a significant leap of 92.1% from the level of KSh 127,065 in 2013." The budget statement was correct about Kenya's revenue growth over the past eight years, as well as increased earnings from the tourism sector and the number of schools built by the administration. Despite also getting the growth in green energy sources and the number of title de (Source: Africa Check)

No, footballer Ekste...: No, footballer Ekstein hasn't resigned from South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs for third time this month Star South African footballer Hendrick "Pule" Ekstein has resigned from his club Kaizer Chiefs – for the third time this month . That's according to the web platform Trends Daily. A report on HinNews.com, a Trends Daily website, says this time Ekstein walked out "angrily" on Chie (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No evidence Holocaust victim and writer Anne Frank said 'regret is stronger than gratitude' A graphic circulating on Facebook quotes Anne Frank , a writer who died in the Holocaust at the age of 16, as saying: "Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude." It shows a photo of Frank with pen and paper at a desk. One pos (Source: Africa Check)

Video of food protes...: Video of food protest in Nigeria's Plateau state, not against Covid-19 lockdown in Kano A video is making the rounds online with the claim it shows people in Nigeria's Kano state protesting against a government-imposed lockdown to curb the Covid-19 outbreak. It's been shared on Instagram , WhatsApp and Facebook with the caption: "Kano rejects lockdown and curfew. It (Source: Africa Check)

Nonexistent 'WHO rat...: Nonexistent 'WHO ratio' widely quoted in uproar over Nigeria's doctor brain drain In a TV interview that left many aghast, employment minister Chris Ngige said he wasn't worried about Nigeria losing its doctors to other countries. Ngige, himself a medical doctor, said the country had more than enough doctors and so could export them. "We have a surplus in the  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, BBC – and other...: Yes, BBC – and others – reported on snakes in Liberian president's place of work "Snakes force Liberian President George Weah out of office," declares a 19 April 2019 Facebook post shared in Nigeria and Guinea. "Liberia's president George Weah worked from his Monrovia home – and not his official workplace – this week because at least two snakes were spotted i (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, moustachioed ho...: Yes, moustachioed horses are a thing! A graphic shared on Facebook in South Africa makes a delightful claim: "If you ever feel sad, just remember that horses can grow moustaches." It shows two close-up photos of horses sporting long curling hair below their nostrils – hair that looks a lot like moustaches. Can horses (Source: Africa Check)

No, crowd queuing at...: No, crowd queuing at Nairobi hotel not applying for just five jobs A photo widely shared on Facebook on 30 June 2019 claim to reveal young Kenyan graduates' desperation to find work. It shows a long queue of people outside Eka Hotel in Nairobi. A post on a Kenyan Facebook group with 2 million members says the queue is of graduates wanting to app (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Kenya's exams council didn't rank best-performing schools when releasing 2020 form 4 exam results A post shared on Facebook claims Kenya's exams council published a list of "top 200 schools nationally" when releasing the results of the 2020 form 4 exams. The results were released on 10 May 2021. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, or KCSE, exams are written at the e (Source: Africa Check)

Did Nigerian governo...: Did Nigerian governor Willie Obiano urge his APGA party's supporters to kill members of the PDP? As Nigeria prepares to vote in strongly contested elections on 16 February 2019, a new controversy is spreading on social media. A widely shared Facebook post claims Willie Obiano, the governor of Anambra State in South-East Nigeria, has urged members of his All Progressives Gran (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence for chur...: No evidence for church claim that porn & rape linked. Other factors are key At the end of last week, before the latest horrific incident, the South African Council of Churches criticised the application by the television channel Top TV to run three "adult" channels in South Africa, saying it was fair to assume a link between availability of pornography a (Source: Africa Check)

Michelle Obama was o...: Michelle Obama was once Michael? No, old photo altered A Facebook post shared – and debated – among people in Nigeria claims that Michelle Obama, wife of former US president Barack Obama, was once biologically male. It shows two photos. One is of a younger Barack with his arm around a person who has close-cropped hair and Michelle's  (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Raw eggs won't save poisoned, convulsing dog – take animal to vet immediately Raw eggs fed to a poisoned dog will save the animal's life, claims a message posted on Facebook in South Africa. "Indien jou hond vergiftig is - selfs terwyl hy stuiptrekkings kry- gooi onmiddellik 2 rou eiers in sy keel af met bietjie water," it reads, in Afrikaans. This roughly (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, term 'fossil fuel' not coined by JD Rockefeller and oil does not regenerate 'faster than can be depleted' A graphic doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa claims that "every time you hear the term 'fossil fuel' on the TV, radio, news etc, you're being lied to". Text above a monochrome image says that in 1892, JD Rockefeller "paid scientists to call oil a ' fossil fuel ' to indu (Source: Africa Check)

MGM lion strapped do...: MGM lion strapped down to film logo? No, photo of lion getting CAT scan An image posted on Facebook in South Africa seems to show the lion mascot of Metro Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) film studios strapped to a table for its iconic roar to be filmed. The lion's head is framed by what looks like a black cardboard cutout bearing MGM's logo, backwards. The impli (Source: Africa Check)

'Lamba Lolo Schools'...: 'Lamba Lolo Schools' image photoshopped Bonyeza hapa ili kusoma ripoti hii kwa Kiswahili. A photo shared on a Kenyan Facebook page suggests there are "lamba lolo" schools in Nairobi. It shows lettering on the side of a yellow school van that reads: "LAMBA LOLO SCHOOLS, KOMAROCK PH.3B." According to the Urban Dictionary (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "The structure of our economy is such that services constitute 60% of it." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "About 60% of Nigeria's workforce is engaged in agriculture." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Downplayed: "The rural areas of this country have about 53% of our population." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "44% of children in Nigeria are stunted because they are malnourished." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "1, 400 kilometres is the length of our borders today." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "We have 175 policemen to 100,000 citizens in Nigeria. UN recommendation is 300 police to 100,000 citizens; some will argue 400 police to 100,000 citizens." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Members of the farmers' club make up one-third of our workforce and 60% are women." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Today, we have 108 million people that are homeless." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "Our budget for health is 3% of the total budget. We will raise it to 15% which was agreed in Abuja." With only weeks to Nigeria's 2019 elections, campaigning is at fever pitch. It has not been without drama. On 19 January 2019 the first presidential debate took place in Abuja. There are currently 73 people eyeing the country's top seat, according to the Independent National Elec (Source: Africa Check)

Is SA bottom of the...: Is SA bottom of the class in maths and science? WEF ranking is meaningless South Africa's education department has reacted angrily to a World Economic Forum (WEF) report that ranked the country last out of 148 countries for the quality of its maths and science education. The WEF's 2014 Global Information Technology Report also ranked South Africa 146 th (Source: Africa Check)

DA has 'no intention...: DA has 'no intention' to shut down Muir Street mosque in Cape Town, South Africa Muslims around the world are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan , an annual period of spiritual reflection and fasting. Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with faith, charity, pilgrimage and prayer. The athaan, a call to prayer, is made five times a day (Source: Africa Check)

No, holding your bre...: No, holding your breath isn't a test for Covid-19 Are you looking for accurate information on the novel coronavirus pandemic? We've put all our fact-checks in one place. Read our Live Guide . We're all worried about the new coronavirus . Covid-19, the disease it causes, has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Org (Source: Africa Check)

No, Canada doesn't s...: No, Canada doesn't slow speedsters with fake potholes – and South Africa's '3D method' is photo from Zimbabwe A viral Facebook meme compares how potholes reduce speed differently on Canadian and South African roads. "Canada uses fake potholes to slow down traffic," it says above a photo of a man laying realistic-looking pothole stickers on a freeway. Below an image of a tilted van with b (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, some species of...: Yes, some species of owls are long-legged birds Do owls hide surprisingly long legs under their feathers? In a graphic shared on Facebook in South Africa, an owl is shown standing, only its clawed feet visible below its coat of feathers. But in the next photo , the owl's feathers have been lifted to reveal long skinny legs tha (Source: Africa Check)

'First they ignore y...: 'First they ignore you… then you win' quote not by Gandhi "First, they will ignore you, then they will laugh at you, then they will fight you and then you win" is a quote often shared online and attributed to Mohandas Gandhi , leader of India's movement against British colonialism in the 1930s and 1940s. It was also posted on Facebook b (Source: Africa Check)

Rail line from Benue...: Rail line from Benue, Nigeria's breadbasket state, to Port Harcourt – but not to Lagos In a reaction to the Nigerian government's plan to build a rail line linking the city of Kano to Niger , a Facebook user has claimed that Benue state, regarded as the country's food basket, does not have a rail line either to Lagos or Port Harcourt. "Benue is the food basket of t (Source: Africa Check)

No, US nurse Tiffany...: No, US nurse Tiffany Dover not killed by Covid-19 vaccine The hashtag #tiffanydover started trending on Twitter in December 2020 when a nurse in Chattanooga, in the US state of Tennessee, fainted after receiving her first dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine . The moment was captured on live TV on 17 December by news network WRCB Chattan (Source: Africa Check)

No truth to killer e...: No truth to killer egg and banana hoax "URGENT!!! Never eat an egg and a banana at the same time because the mixture gives a poison that kills within 5 minutes," reads a warning shared on Facebook. It comes with two photos of men lying on the floor, seemingly dead, next to a spread of food that includes bananas. The p (Source: Africa Check)

False: Diseases can live in alkaline environments, you can't move the body to an 'alkaline state' – and you wouldn't want to IN SHORT: Another day, another post on Facebook suggesting you can change the pH level of your body and that this will affect your health. We've seen such claims before and they're still not true. Diet does not affect the pH of the body and diseases such as cancer live in slightl (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, infusion of neem tree and lime won't kill intestinal worms A message posted on Facebook in Nigeria claims drinking water infused with "neem tree" and "lime oranges" will kill intestinal worms. It explains how to prepare the mixture and then reads : " Drink a glass morning and night for three days and every worm will be crushed and come o (Source: Africa Check)

Standard front page...: Standard front page photoshopped – Kenya's deputy president not rejecting Uhuru's support An image of what appears to be the front page of Kenya's Standard newspaper from 10 October 2020 has been widely shared across Facebook. The headline reads : "Ruto: I don't need Uhuru in 2022." Text below the headline reads : "In an unexpected escalation of defiance against his b (Source: Africa Check)

Making money from so...: Making money from social division: the case of @TracyZille If you're on social media in South Africa, it's likely you've recently seen an offensive post by someone named Tracy Zille. From its profile pic, the Twitter account @TracyZille seems to belong to a white woman. And it uses the surname of Helen Zille, the former head of the Democ (Source: Africa Check)

Weeping soldier from...: Weeping soldier from DRC, not Nigeria A video of a soldier crying next to a dead body has been posted on the Facebook page Biafra Independent News . It's captioned : "If you want to see Nigeria army's crying for Boko Haram, please watch this video." Boko Haram is a militant insurgent terror group based in northern Ni (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, UK's Elizabeth II, the Pope and pharmaceutical CEOs have not been found guilty of crimes related to Covid-19 or vaccines A video published on Facebook on 17 January 2022 claims that warrants of arrest are out for 75 high-profile people for "crimes against humanity" related to the Covid-19 vaccine. The list includes the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, the head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis and the CE (Source: Africa Check)

No, sharks not immun...: No, sharks not immune to 'every known disease' A photo of a shark is prominently featured in a meme currently shared on Facebook in Nigeria. The meme claims that sharks "are the only animals to never get sick. They are even immune to every known disease including cancer". This post was flagged as part of Facebook's efforts to (Source: Africa Check)

Bakterie: Covid-19 nie veroorsaak deur bakterie: mite herwin deur 'n paar details uit te ruil Read this report in English. Rusland het die eerste outopsie op 'n Covid 19-slagoffer uitgevoer, beweer 'n boodskap op Facebook, en het bevind dat die siekte deur 'n bestraalde bakterie veroorsaak word, nié deur 'n virus nie. "Rusland het die eerste land ter wêreld geword wat 'n  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Nation didn't report that Kenyan president Kenyatta said 'I cannot hand over power to thieves, conmen and tribalists' A graphic with the branding of established news website Nation , circulating on Facebook in February 2021, attributes a controversial quote to Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. "I'm going home next year but I cannot handover power to thieves, conmen and tribalists," it reads . "I  (Source: Africa Check)

Dangerous hoax! DO N...: Dangerous hoax! DO NOT type your PIN in backwards if you're mugged at an ATM A potentially life-threatening Facebook post says that if you're threatened and forced to withdraw cash at an ATM, all you have to do is enter your PIN number backwards and the police will be alerted. It reads : "If a thief forces you to take money out of an ATM, do not argue or  (Source: Africa Check)

Photo of special eff...: Photo of special effects makeup, not real injuries A Facebook post shared over 2,000 times in Nigeria asks people to pray for the woman pictured. She looks disfigured, with half her face appearing burnt and bleeding and her right eye hanging out of its socket. "Please don't ignore. She need prayers. Please help share to 5groups o (Source: Africa Check)

SA finance minister...: SA finance minister hoped illegal electricity connections were fake – they're not South Africa's finance minister, Tito Mboweni, used Twitter to express his shock over an image doing the rounds on social media. The picture shows what appear to be illegal electricity connections running through a gaping hole in the wall of a face-brick building. "Could this be  (Source: Africa Check)

Beware of fake – and...: Beware of fake – and incendiary – Kenya Kwanza coalition manifesto On 29 Jun 2022, Kenya's deputy president William Ruto announced his Kenya Kwanza political coalition would launch its manifesto ahead of the country's 9 August general election. However, early on 30 June, a 30-page document was posted on WhatsApp . An image of part of the documen (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, senior Ugandan police officer didn't warn Ugandans not to protest on fear of death A widely shared post on Facebook claims a top police officer in Uganda warned Ugandans to "prepare [their] wills and coffins" if they protested against the government. Posted on 10 March 2020, it shows a photo of major general Paul Lokech , the deputy inspector general of the Uga (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: In Baringo, we put 51% of our resources into healthcare In January 2021 Baringo county governor Stanley Kiptis argued against striking health workers' pay demands. He made three claims. His claim that the county puts 51% of its resources into healthcare is incorrect – it hasn't been more than 37% in three years. The claim that Baringo (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Baringo's healthcare allocation is the highest In January 2021 Baringo county governor Stanley Kiptis argued against striking health workers' pay demands. He made three claims. His claim that the county puts 51% of its resources into healthcare is incorrect – it hasn't been more than 37% in three years. The claim that Baringo (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly Correct: Baringo [has] gone beyond the 35% ceiling on personnel emoluments as set in the constitution. We are at 55.7%. In January 2021 Baringo county governor Stanley Kiptis argued against striking health workers' pay demands. He made three claims. His claim that the county puts 51% of its resources into healthcare is incorrect – it hasn't been more than 37% in three years. The claim that Baringo (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Kenyans.co.ke didn't quote analyst Kisiang'ani as saying politician alleging plot to assassinate president needed security protection A graphic with the logo of the news site Kenyans.co.ke , doing the rounds on Facebook since late February 2022, attributes a controversial quote to Prof Edward Kisiang'ani , a prominent Kenyan political analyst. "Livondo should be given state security, otherwise we could witness  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Newly upgraded stadium in Nigeria's Oyo state under water? No, photos of UK's Hillsborough stadium in 2007 Photos posted on Facebook in Nigeria show a sports stadium flooded with water. "Omituntun International Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State. Engr Seyi Makinde, you are doing well. 5.5billion," their caption reads. On 2 September 2021, Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde unveiled the remodelle (Source: Africa Check)

Side by side: What Z...: Side by side: What Zuma said & what the Marikana Commission wrote Nearly three years after 34 miners were shot and killed by police at Marikana, in South Africa's platinum mining belt, the country's president, Jacob Zuma, on Thursday released a report on the massacre's causes. Zuma told South Africa the report exonerated ministers in his cabine (Source: Africa Check)

False: Kenyan senator Kang'ata running from youth demanding rally attendance pay? No, he was running late A photo of a running man in a blue suit and white shirt has been posted on Facebook and Twitter with the claim that it shows Kenyan senator Irungu Kang'ata fleeing angry young people he had promised to pay if they attended a rally held by deputy president William Ruto. "Irungu Ka (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, guava leaf drink won't cure infertility "Guava leaves for conception," reads the headline of a message posted on Facebook on 19 March 2022. It claims that a drink made with guava leaves can cure infertility because they contain "fertility boosting nutrients". "Stop wasting your money every time on drugs and try the nat (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Kenya's electoral commission chair given $3 million bribe? No, newspaper front page fake "Interpol: IEBC chair was bribed $ 3M," reads the headline on what seems to be the front page of the 7 July 2022 issue of the Star, a Kenyan newspaper, circulating on Facebook. The page shows photos of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati, (Source: Africa Check)

Donald Trump's 'fore...: Donald Trump's 'foreign policy': Fact-checking US$166 bn China-Africa trade claim Chinese officials were the first to report that trade between China and Africa reached $166 billion in 2011. This was confirmed by data from the UN, World Bank and other research institutes. Any disparities in figures are likely to be because of differences in how bilateral trade (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, Kenya's preside...: Yes, Kenya's president ordered flag flown half-mast to honour Mugabe Former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe died at the age of 95 on 6 September 2019. Facebook posts soon emerged saying Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta had ordered the country's national flag to be flown at half-mast in honour of Mugabe. The posts were flagged as possibly false b (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photo does not show accident between the 'only two cars' in the US state of Ohio in 1895 A graphic circulating on Facebook reads: "In 1895 there were only 2 Cars in the entire state of Ohio yet they still ended up crashing into each other." The graphic includes a black-and-white photo and has been viewed more than 280,000 times since it was posted on 13 February 2022 (Source: Africa Check)

False: Photo of pregnant nun? Church says no, her appearance is due to ill health IN SHORT: A pregnant nun might be the butt of jokes and against the strictures of the church. But there's no evidence the woman in a photo shared on social media is pregnant. A photo showing a woman dressed in a white habit of the type worn by nuns in the Catholic church is circu (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, banana flower isn't a 'miracle food' – beware of health claims promising miracles A Facebook post about the "healing powers" of the banana flower claims it is a "miracle food". The post lists a number of its supposed health benefits, including the ability to "prevent" conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease, cancer and heart disease. But how  (Source: Africa Check)

Muddy road to counte...: Muddy road to counter Nigerian minister's claim? Photo not from Nigeria In early November 2019, Nigeria's works and housing minister Babatunde Fashola faced criticism after he was quoted as saying the roads in the country were "not as bad as they are often portrayed". Nigerians then took to Facebook and Twitter to share dozens of photos of roads in a (Source: Africa Check)

Scam! Tuskys not hir...: Scam! Tuskys not hiring 3,400 employees across Kenya A now-deleted Facebook post claimed it could offer 3,400 jobs at Tuskys supermarkets throughout Kenya. The post linked to a Google Form , which is still live. The form, headed "Tuskys supermarkets job application form", claims the company is looking to hire "cleaners and guards,  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Male prostitution ring run by son of Kenyan president-elect Ruto? No, newspaper front page fake "Gay affairs ring, Redhouse boss and Nick Ruto," reads the headline on what appears to be the front page of the Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, circulating on Facebook. The page shows a photo of Kenyan president-elect William Ruto's son Nick Ruto with Koome Mwambia, CEO of the mark (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: ProGas Kenya urgently looking for employees? Scammers promise fake jobs, again An advert doing the rounds on Facebook in May 2022 claims that Proto Energy Limited , the company that makes ProGas cooking gas cylinders, is on a recruitment drive. "PRO Gas industry is urgently looking for ambitious people who can work with us like drivers, storekeepers, manufa (Source: Africa Check)

Thumb or index finge...: Thumb or index finger? Any fingerprint can be used to vote in Nigeria's elections Nigeria's presidential elections are set for 16 February 2019. But on 12 February a hoax popped up on social media: "Vote with your index finger and not your thumb." The message reads: "The Independent National Electoral Commission has changed the pattern of voting without majori (Source: Africa Check)

Rigged ballots for B...: Rigged ballots for Buhari? For Atiku? Both sides recycle dodgy 2015 photo after Nigeria's 2019 elections postponed On 16 February 2019 Nigeria's presidential elections were postponed for a week just hours before voting was to start. The front-running candidates are current President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party . Within a (Source: Africa Check)

Charity understates...: Charity understates cervical cancer deaths in Nigeria as it unveils campaign While unveiling a high-profile campaign against cervical cancer, the founder of a Nigerian charity highlighted the country's disease burden. Dr Chris Ifediora said that of about 14,000 Nigerian women diagnosed with cervical cancer every year, just over 8,000 will die. But the mos (Source: Africa Check)

Viral home remedy wo...: Viral home remedy won't cure your dog's 'cat flu' – and could be toxic Parvovirus causes the most damage to a dog's gut, which leads to a loss of fluids, and puppies die from sepsis or severe dehydration. The seasonal virus can't be destroyed, but the best treatment is to control diarrhoea and vomiting in the animal, ideally while it is hospitalised (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "Research by the Institute for Security Studies (2003) indicates that the 12 to 21 age group has the largest number of offenders and victims compared to other age groups in South Africa." South Africa will celebrate its national Youth Day next week. The country's government has just approved a new National Youth Policy that will be implemented until 2020. The policy (with the tag line "We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand up!") outlines the problems facing Sou (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: "In 2013, of the total 5,698 deaths in South Africa due to transport, 2,515 were among youth, indicating that 44% of all traffic accident deaths in the country occurred among the youth." South Africa will celebrate its national Youth Day next week. The country's government has just approved a new National Youth Policy that will be implemented until 2020. The policy (with the tag line "We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand up!") outlines the problems facing Sou (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "Of the total number of deaths due to assault and intentional self-harm in the country, 69% and 59% of them, respectively, occurred among those aged 15-34 years." South Africa will celebrate its national Youth Day next week. The country's government has just approved a new National Youth Policy that will be implemented until 2020. The policy (with the tag line "We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand up!") outlines the problems facing Sou (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: "The prevalence of pregnancy increased with age, rising from 0.7% for females aged 14 years, to 12.1% for females aged 19 years." South Africa will celebrate its national Youth Day next week. The country's government has just approved a new National Youth Policy that will be implemented until 2020. The policy (with the tag line "We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand up!") outlines the problems facing Sou (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: "4.5% of teenage girls between the ages 13-19 were reported pregnant in 2013." South Africa will celebrate its national Youth Day next week. The country's government has just approved a new National Youth Policy that will be implemented until 2020. The policy (with the tag line "We don't want a hand-out, we want a hand up!") outlines the problems facing Sou (Source: Africa Check)

False: Health agencies deny reports of US-funded monkeypox 'biolabs' in Nigeria – and (still) no Russian request for WHO investigation "Four US biolabs operate in Nigeria, where monkeypox came from," reads a headline on the Tass website, in an article dated 27 May 2022. It credits the information to Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian defence ministry's "Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Protection troops". Tass i (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Don't be conned by another imposter Facebook page offering to boost Fuliza overdraft limit in Kenya IN SHORT : Kenya's popular Fuliza overdraft service allows M-Pesa mobile money users to borrow up to KSh70,000. But can the actor Maria Yasmeen boost this amount to KSh100,000? No, the Facebook page is a scam. The Facebook page " Maria Yasmeen " is offering to boost the borrowing (Source: Africa Check)

Not enough evidence...: Not enough evidence to prove that sleeping with mobile phone under the pillow is dangerous A meme widely shared on Facebook cautions people against sleeping with their cellphones under the pillow. According to the meme , titled "Don't ever sleep with mobile under the pillow", most mobile phones emit harmful radiation due to transmission of signal of around 900 megahert (Source: Africa Check)

No, China has not se...: No, China has not sent Covid-19 vaccines to Nigeria "The vaccine has just arrived Nigeria airport few hours ago from China," says a Facebook post from 7 April 2020. The post includes four photos of large plastic-wrapped bundles being offloaded from a plane. The bundles have "China Aid" written on them. The post claims the bundles  (Source: Africa Check)

Don't be conned by s...: Don't be conned by scam 'GetJobs Kenya' Facebook page The Facebook page "GetJobs Kenya" has been advertising fake job vacancies for more than three years. Since it was created on 30 May 2017, the page has targeted job seekers in Kenya. On 2 October 2018 the page advertised vacancies at Kenya's biggest milk processor, Brookside Dairy (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, South Africa not a private company listed on the New York Stock Exchange In a short clip posted on Facebook, apparently taken from a longer interview, a man identified as Maponga J iii Marar-Rah claims that South Africa is "not a country". "It's a business," he says. He goes on to claim that "on the New York Stock Exchange, South Africa is registered  (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: Uganda's health minister was vaccinated against Covid-19 – video shows re-enactment for journalists soon after A video of Ugandan health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng pretending to get a Covid-19 vaccine jab was posted on Facebook on 11 March 2021 and has since been viewed more than 20,000 times. In the video , a medic brings the syringe needle close to Aceng's arm. But it's clear that the  (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, migrating ospre...: Yes, migrating osprey that flew from Finland to Kenya has died On 24 January 2020 it was reported that a rare osprey, a wild bird also known as a fish hawk , had been caught in a fishing net after flying nearly 7,000 kilometres from Finland to western Kenya. The bird was rescued and put in the care of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Three  (Source: Africa Check)

Beware! Ad for Kenya...: Beware! Ad for Kenya Power jobs is fake A Facebook user shared a poster which appears to advertise jobs at Kenya Power and Lighting Company . According to the poster , the power company has nearly 8,000 vacancies, including for "crafts men & women", cashiers, apprentice engineers, customer care staff and secretaries. T (Source: Africa Check)

Jobscam: More than 670,000 jobs available for foreigners in Canada? No, just another scam A message advertising jobs in Canada for more than 450,000 skilled and unskilled workers has been posted on Facebook and WhatsApp in Kenya. It's headed "JOB RECRUITMENT CANADA 2022," and claims that there are over 670,000 jobs available. The message says travel expenses, housing, (Source: Africa Check)

Okonjo-Iweala not ap...: Okonjo-Iweala not appointed WTO director general, but on final shortlist of two Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , a prominent economist and international development expert, has been appointed director general of the World Trade Organization , claims a message circulating on Facebook since 8 October 2020. "Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed as the new dire (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, strange claim that international football association requested to keep late Brazilian legend Pelé's feet for 'historical reasons' is not true IN SHORT: Pelé, the Brazilian footballer considered by many the greatest of all time, died on 29 December 2022 at the age of 82. But despite persistent rumours on social media, there is no evidence that Fifa asked to keep the dead man's feet. Pelé , the Brazilian soccer player kn (Source: Africa Check)

Building destroyed i...: Building destroyed in Syrian airstrikes, not collapsed mortuary in West Africa "Breaking News: 40 dead bodies died as mortuary collapse in Benin," reads text on what seems to be a screenshot of a TV news broadcast by "Channel 127". It shows a photo of a collapsed building. The image was posted on Facebook in Nigeria on 22 August 2020 with the caption : "How (Source: Africa Check)

Scam alert! Ignore f...: Scam alert! Ignore fake advert for 'graduate trainee jobs' at Kenya's tax agency An advert offering 4,257 graduate trainee jobs at the Kenya Revenue Authority has been making the rounds on social media. The ad , posted on a Kenyan Facebook group with over 265,000 members, claims the positions will help prepare future KRA staff to take on challenging responsib (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's governing party spokesperson Festus Keyamo didn't say rival candidate Peter Obi 'will turn the country around' IN SHORT: The race for Nigeria's presidency is tight with the February election only weeks away. So it would be unusual for one camp to praise a rival, as Facebook posts claim. A post shared on Facebook in Nigeria attributes a quote to Festus Keyamo, spokesperson for the presiden (Source: Africa Check)

Giant snake on road...: Giant snake on road in Tanzania? Crudely photoshopped image already debunked in China Bonyeza hapa ili kusoma ripoti hii kwa Kiswahili. Click here to read this report in Kiswahili. An image that seems to show a giant snake slithering down a road between crowds of people was shared on a Tanzanian Facebook page on 8 August 2019. It's captioned , in Kiswahili: "Umati (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, teenager Anika...: Yes, teenager Anika Chebrolu awarded US$25,000 for work on potential Covid-19 treatment A graphic shared on Instagram claims a teen has won tens of thousands of dollars for work on a "potential Covid-19 treatment". Above a photo of a young woman presenting a scientific poster and model is the headline: "Meet Anika Chebrolu, the Indian-American teen who won $25,000 f (Source: Africa Check)

Scam alert! Kenya Ai...: Scam alert! Kenya Airways not hiring on Facebook, doesn't charge money for job applications A post on the Facebook page "Kenya Airways jobs" claims to offer some 1,700 jobs at the national airline. "JKIA wishes to announce to the general public of age between 18 to 50 years of a massive recruitment of vacant positions in all airports and airstrips in Kenya for qualified (Source: Africa Check)

African Fact-checkin...: African Fact-checking Awards: Who entered what? English entries State of the Living Springs gasps for breath by Ajibola Amzat [Nigeria] The claim by the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, about the total revenue allocation to his state between November 2010 when he was first sworn-in and December 2014 may not be a (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photo of then-vice president of Tanzania doesn't signal change in attitude to Covid-19 Barely hours after the announcement of Tanzanian president John Magufuli 's death on 17 March 2021, a photo started circulating on social media which users claimed "proved" that Tanzanians had subsequently started wearing face masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In one tweet (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Nigeria's financial crimes commission hasn't raided the ruling party's presidential candidate's home nor found N400 million in new naira notes IN SHORT: Days before the Nigerian election, news of a raid on a prominent presidential candidate's home by the financial crimes commission, seizing a large amount of new naira notes, should be ignored. A message circulating on social media in Nigeria claims that the Economic and (Source: Africa Check)

Coronavirus job scam...: Coronavirus job scam! No, World Health Organization Kenya not hiring on Facebook A Facebook post claims the World Health Organization is looking to hire community enforcement workers to help create awareness of Covid-19 in Kenya. It reads : "JOB AT WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (WHO) – Kenya free application. Help us fight CORONAVIRUS by working for three months  (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "[Sugar-sweetened drinks] account for just 3% of daily calorie intake in South Africa." The South African government has its eye on sweet-toothed citizens. Finance minister Pravin Gordhan announced a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in his February 2016 budget speech. The comment period closed last week and the tax is planned to be in effect from 1 April 2017  (Source: Africa Check)

Unproven: " This decline in [sales] volumes could result in 62,000-72,000 job losses, many of which will be in small-scale farms and spazas. " The South African government has its eye on sweet-toothed citizens. Finance minister Pravin Gordhan announced a proposed tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in his February 2016 budget speech. The comment period closed last week and the tax is planned to be in effect from 1 April 2017  (Source: Africa Check)

No, you don't need t...: No, you don't need to avoid these foods and activities during menstruation, claims in viral post are 'outrageous' While it's common to suffer from menstrual headaches, these aren't caused by using shampoo during menstruation. There is also no link between touching the abdomen and health risks related to menstruation. An expert described claims that cold water, cucumbers and ice cream should  (Source: Africa Check)

No, we're not hiring...: No, we're not hiring on Facebook: Giant Kenyan brewer warns on conmen A fake advert on Facebook claims dozens of jobs are available at Kenya's East African Breweries Limited (EABL). The post links to an application on Google Forms that says the giant company is looking to fill positions such as cleaners, machine operators, receptionists, secretarie (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Man who sued Kenya's deputy president murdered? No evidence and claim not published by Citizen TV A screenshot has been posted on Facebook in Kenya, appearing to show a link to an article from Citizen TV Kenya with a disturbing headline. The headline reads: "Man who sued DP Ruto for using his bottom up idea without consent was found murdered along Thika Road last week." The s (Source: Africa Check)

False: Japan has never had a Covid vaccine mandate – but warns of 'rare' heart inflammation side effect from Moderna vaccine, among young men "Japan drops all vaccine mandates, places myocarditis warning on label," reads text on what seems to be a screenshot of a news article, doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa in January 2022. The claim is also circulating widely elsewhere . Myocarditis is when the middle la (Source: Africa Check)

False: Viral image does not show Kenyan student fighting lecturer over boyfriend IN SHORT: A grainy photo of a dramatic confrontation does not show a Kenyan student fighting her lecturer over a love triangle gone wrong. It's an incident in the US, motive unknown. An image doing the rounds on Facebook in Kenya appears to show two women in a physical confrontat (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Lagos is now the third largest economy in Africa." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Understated: "In 1999 Lagos was generating N700 million in internally generated revenue per month." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Exaggerated: "Lagos is now generating N50 billion monthly in internally generated revenue." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "The growth of Lagos' internally generated revenue from N600 million to N51 billion monthly is the record of Bola Tinubu." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "We have recorded a 5% increase in the inflationary rate between 2020 and now [2022]." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "This is better than what you have in countries like the US, Canada, and Spain which are doing between a 7 to 10% increase in the inflationary rate." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Misleading: "The World Bank warned that several countries have debt crises. There were 25 African countries on the list, Nigeria was not there." Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Lebanon had to borrow $150 million for food security. We have not borrowed for food security". Both APC office-bearers sought to talk up the APC's economic gains, particularly in Lagos state under former governor Bola Tinubu who is running for president in the February 2023 elections. But they exaggerated the growth of the Lagos economy under Tinubu's governorship and misl (Source: Africa Check)

Rárá, ọ̀gágun tí ó j...: Rárá, ọ̀gágun tí ó jẹ́ olórí orílẹ̀dè Nàìjíríà tẹ́lẹ̀rí Babangida kò tweet pé òhun fọ̣wọ́sí bí Obasanjo ṣe fòntè lu Obi olùdíje fún ipò ààrẹ NÍ ÈDÈ KÚKÚRÚ : Tweet kan tí ó ń káàkiri ní orí Facebook ń fihàn pé ògágun tí ó jẹ́ olórí orílẹ̀dè Nàìjíríà tẹ́lẹ̀rí sọpé òhun bu ọlá fún ààrẹ tẹ́lẹ̀rí Olusegun Obasanjo bí ó ṣe fòntẹ̀ lu Peter Obi olùdíje dupò ààrẹ lábé ẹgbẹ́ òṣèlú Labour. Ṣùgbọ́n tweet ọ̀hún wá látorí àkántì tí (Source: Africa Check)

False: Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote didn't profess eternal gratitude to ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu for helping him 'set up' US$20bn oil refinery IN SHORT: In elections in Africa, as across the world, money makes a difference. Having infinite resources would give a candidate an edge. But a quote allegedly by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote backing the ruling party is unsupported by evidence. Has Nigeria's richest man sa (Source: Africa Check)

Photos of 'police br...: Photos of 'police brutality in Kutus' taken from Kenya's 2016 Nairobi protests In May 2016, as Kenya was gearing up for general elections the next year, the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy called for countrywide protests to demand the resignation of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officers. The protests led to clashes in Nairo (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: 'Tree cutting activity' to prevent suicide at presidential candidate Ruto's home ahead of elections? No, NTV Kenya screenshot fake In late March 2022, National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya (Narc-Kenya) leader Martha Karua announced that her party had joined the Azimio la Umoja coalition. The coalition is led by Raila Odinga, head of Kenya's Orange Democratic Movement and a presidential candidate in the 9 August g (Source: Africa Check)

No, a child is not r...: No, a child is not reported missing every 5 hours in South Africa An IOL article has repeated a much circulated , but incorrect, statistic that a child goes missing every 5 hours. The article, providing sound advice on steps parents could take to ensure their children's safety this festive season, relays figures provided in the latest Missing C (Source: Africa Check)

Muslims made into co...: Muslims made into corned beef? No, photo of 2010 Tibetan earthquake victims Warning: This report links to a distressing photo of a mass funeral. Are the bodies of Muslims murdered in Burma (a disputed name , also given as Myanmar ) being shipped to China, where they are processed into corned beef that's then sold in African countries? No. But that's the  (Source: Africa Check)

Old hoax about Whats...: Old hoax about WhatsApp 'ending tomorrow at 6 pm' circulating again in Nigeria A message circulating on WhatsApp claims the messaging app will shut down "tomorrow at 6 pm", after which people will "have to pay to open it." It urges users to forward the message to everyone in their contact list to keep their accounts active and avoid losing their contacts. " (Source: Africa Check)

False: Obama arriving in Kenya for grandmother's funeral? No, video from 2018 On 29 March 2021, former US president Barack Obama's grandmother Sarah Obama died in hospital in Nairobi, Kenya's capital. The next day, a video claiming to show Obama arriving in the Kenyan city of Kisumu for his grandmother's burial was shared on Facebook. It has been viewed ro (Source: Africa Check)

Kenya's last economi...: Kenya's last economic recession was in 2002, not 1992 as major TV station claimed In a report on a recent World Bank review of Africa's economic prospects, the Citizen TV website claimed that Kenya's last recession was in 1992. A recession is defined as an economic contraction over six months, or two consecutive quarters of the year. Kenya only started reporti (Source: Africa Check)

No, 70% of American...: No, 70% of American foreign aid is not 'stolen off the top' The United States spends about $50 billion on foreign aid, or about 1% of its entire federal budget . Much of it, whether in the form of development, health, humanitarian or military aid, involves the US state department at some point in the process. So, at a confirmation hearing (Source: Africa Check)

False: No evidence Nigerian presidential hopeful Bola Tinubu made promises in the millions for new jobs and cash handouts IN SHORT : Politicians in Nigeria are not averse to making big promises, but even the influential Bola Tinubu would be doubly wary of promising more than 200 million jobs a year – Nigeria's total population – or handing out thousands of dollars, including to babies. A post shared (Source: Africa Check)

No, skyscraper in Si...: No, skyscraper in Singapore, not Kenya A photo showing an impressive skyscraper has been shared on Facebook, with a caption that claims it is "a part of Kenya the media will never show you". The building looks like a ship floating at the top of three towers. But is this actually in Kenya? We checked. 'Architectural ma (Source: Africa Check)

Media fanning the le...: Media fanning the legend of surf champ shark attack To fight off one shark is pretty awesome. To fight off two is incredible. But that is what some of media reports say happened in Sunday's incident at the surf championships at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. This was the version that went out initially - certainly unnerving. The fr (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, free Covid-19 t...: Yes, free Covid-19 testing at South African pharmacy chain Dis-Chem, if referred through Momentum app Hello Doctor "Momentum and Dis-Chem has announced that they will be offering private lab COVID testing to non-medical aid and unemployed patients," says a WhatsApp message Africa Check received on 8 June 2020. The message says South African pharmacy and clinic chain Dis-Chem will do free Covi (Source: Africa Check)

Blogger mangles info...: Blogger mangles info on African electrification aid project Critics of American foreign aid often say the dollars are wasted. Daniel Greenfield, a fellow with the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a conservative think tank, put that argument at the top of an article that appeared on one of the center's websites. "Obama spent $7 billion to br (Source: Africa Check)

Onions, lime, kola a...: Onions, lime, kola and garlic drink won't cure erectile dysfunction A message on the Nigeria-based Facebook page " Beauty & Health Arena " claims a drink made from boiling white onions, limes, kola seeds and garlic is a "remedy for poor erection". It says to "drink a glass cup morning and night for one week". Erectile dysfunction is a common heal (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Mombasa is Kenya's oldest town. During Kenyan national day celebrations in Mombasa on 20 October 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta listed some of his government's achievements. But evidence suggests cargo passing through the port hasn't doubled since 2013. Coastal counties however have received nearly KSh190 billi (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: Over the last six years, the counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Mombasa, Taita Taveta and Tana River, have cumulatively received close to KSh190 billion from the national treasury. During Kenyan national day celebrations in Mombasa on 20 October 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta listed some of his government's achievements. But evidence suggests cargo passing through the port hasn't doubled since 2013. Coastal counties however have received nearly KSh190 billi (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: "Under this administration … at Kilindini we have more than doubled the volume of cleared cargo passing [through] the port annually." During Kenyan national day celebrations in Mombasa on 20 October 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta listed some of his government's achievements. But evidence suggests cargo passing through the port hasn't doubled since 2013. Coastal counties however have received nearly KSh190 billi (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: Our life expectancy [has increased] from 35 years at independence … During Kenyan national day celebrations in Mombasa on 20 October 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta listed some of his government's achievements. But evidence suggests cargo passing through the port hasn't doubled since 2013. Coastal counties however have received nearly KSh190 billi (Source: Africa Check)

Mostly-Correct: Our life expectancy [has increased] … to 67 years currently. During Kenyan national day celebrations in Mombasa on 20 October 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta listed some of his government's achievements. But evidence suggests cargo passing through the port hasn't doubled since 2013. Coastal counties however have received nearly KSh190 billi (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, years-old video clips from Hindu festivals – not idols thrown away in India because they 'don't have power to cure' Covid "IDOLS THROWN ON THE STREET BCUZ THEY DON'T HAVE POWER TO CURE CORONA VIRUS IN INDIA," reads the caption of a video posted on the Facebook page " Islamic Nigeria dawah tv " in May 2021. The video begins with a man speaking to camera: "A large number of Indians have thrown the ido (Source: Africa Check)

Correct: 'Nigeria currently has the highest burden worldwide of sickle cell disease.' While reporting on the work of local Nigerian groups in raising awareness of the blood disorder, TVC News accurately reported that Nigeria has the highest burden of the disease worldwide. The TV station was however off the mark with other claims about the disease in Nigeria, incl (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: 'Nigeria bears 50% of the global sickle cell burden.' While reporting on the work of local Nigerian groups in raising awareness of the blood disorder, TVC News accurately reported that Nigeria has the highest burden of the disease worldwide. The TV station was however off the mark with other claims about the disease in Nigeria, incl (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: 'For every two babies born with sickle cell in the world, one is a Nigerian.' While reporting on the work of local Nigerian groups in raising awareness of the blood disorder, TVC News accurately reported that Nigeria has the highest burden of the disease worldwide. The TV station was however off the mark with other claims about the disease in Nigeria, incl (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, California's GD...: Yes, California's GDP is larger than that of Africa's combined The US state of California has a larger gross domestic product than that of all African countries put together, a popular Twitter account claimed in January 2019. In a tweet to its nearly 900,000 followers The Spectator Index said the state's GDP was US$2.9 trillion, and Africa's (Source: Africa Check)

Fake logistics job a...: Fake logistics job ads circulating for Bakers South Africa A job advert claiming that South African logistics company Bakers SA Limited is looking to fill various positions has appeared across Facebook. According to the advert, Bakers is hiring drivers and general workers, as well as electrical and mechanical engineers and boilermakers J (Source: Africa Check)

Youth disrupt Kenyan...: Youth disrupt Kenyan opposition leader Odinga's Nairobi rally? No, photos old and unrelated As Kenya's August 2022 general elections approach, both political activity and propaganda potentially inciting violence increases. On 17 January 2021 Raila Odinga , leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement , held a rally for Embakasi East constituents in Nairobi county (Source: Africa Check)

'We destroyed oursel...: 'We destroyed ourselves' quote not by Abraham Lincoln – but he said something similar Multiple Facebook posts and memes shared in Kenya and worldwide often attribute a well-worn quote to Abraham Lincoln, president of the USA from 1861 to 1865. They claim Lincoln said: "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be (Source: Africa Check)

False: Shugaban jam'iyya mai mulki APC Adamu bai ce hukumar zaɓe ba zata iya hana yara zaɓe ba A TAƘAICE: Babu hujjar cewa Abdullahi Adamu, shugaban jam'iyyar All Progressives Party, ya ce hukumar zaɓe bata da "ƙarfin da" zata hana ƴan ƙasa da shekaru 18 yin zaɓe, ko cewar su ne "waɗanda ke da ƴancin yin zaɓe". Wani babban ɗan siyasa ya ce, hukumar zaɓen Najeriya " bata da (Source: Africa Check)

Israeli scientists '...: Israeli scientists 'close' to developing Covid-19 vaccine, but no announcement or release yet "Israel 'Announces Cures' For Coronavirus, Releases Vaccine," reads the headline of an article on the site Current News Now. The article, dated 29 February 2020, says this is the "first vaccine to combat the coronavirus, which originated in China". The date and description strong (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, prime minister of Niger didn't lecture Kenyan president at Dakar summit – heavily shared clip manipulated A video posted on TikTok in late January 2023 shows Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, the prime minister of Niger, sitting next to Kenyan president William Ruto. Mahamadou appears to be talking. The West African country of Niger lies on the northern border of Nigeria. A sign behind the two  (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nigerian music s...: No, Nigerian music star Rema not dead – rumour started on Wikipedia Screenshots of what seem to be Google search result pages are circulating on Facebook and Instagram , spreading a rumour that Nigerian music star Divine Ikubor , known as Rema, has died. "Rema (musician) Divine lkubor (born May 1, 2000), and died on February 1, 2020 at 12:29 am," (Source: Africa Check)

No, Nokia not giving...: No, Nokia not giving out new phones for students to attend online classes A post on a Zambian Facebook group claims that global technology firm Nokia is giving away new phones to students. "If you are a student, get a chance to win a phone to attend online classes. Because of this pandemic period, Nokia is ready to give away 550 phones to students to b (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, four-year-old video of bees on thief likely shot in Uganda, not in Kenya in 2021 A video posted on the verified Instagram page of Mike Sonko , ex-governor of Kenya's Nairobi county, shows a shirtless man with his head, chest and back covered in swarming bees. The man, holding an appliance of some kind, is surrounded by a crowd of people speaking excitedly in  (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: No, Kenya billionaire Wanjigi not running for Nairobi governorship as UDA candidate An election poster circulating on Facebook since early March 2022 suggests that Kenyan billionaire Jimi Wanjigi is running for the governor's seat of Nairobi county, the county's capital, in the August general elections . It shows a photo of Wanjigi, next to title text reading "N (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, WhatsApp still fully encrypted. Ignore old hoax that the government will monitor your messages and calls IN SHORT : An online message from 2021 has resurfaced in Kenya claiming that all WhatsApp calls will be recorded, social media monitored, and that "devices will connect to the ministry system". But WhatsApp told us that its encryption technology means nobody can listen in on your (Source: Africa Check)

Ɗan takarar shuganba...: Ɗan takarar shuganban ƙasa Tinubu na kallon abokin hamayyarsa Obi a talabijin ɗin cikin jirgin sama? Ba haka ba ne, mashahurin mutumin da ya saka hoton, ya sa hoton da aka sauyawa kamanni A TAƘAICE : A hoton da aka sauyawa kamanni, an nuna Bola Tinubu na jam'iyyar All Progressive Congress kamar yana kallon ɗan jam'iyyar Labour Peter Obi, a cikin jirgin sama. Amma a hoton na ainihi, talabijin ɗin babu hoto a cikinta. Wani hoto da aka wallafa a Facebook na nuna Bola (Source: Africa Check)

Scam: Don't be fooled by a Facebook account pretending to be run by Kenya's Citizen TV news anchor Rashid Abdalla IN SHORT: An account in the name of a Citizen TV news anchor promises a reward of KSh150,000 – a substantial sum for many – but you have to pay to get it. This is a scam and should be ignored. The Facebook account Rashid Abdallah Awuor has been running promotions in a Facebook gr (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: This MRI scan of mother and child photoshopped, does not show burst of love hormone A graphic with a scan of two humans in profile has been doing the rounds on Facebook in South Africa. The scan appears to show an adult and a child in a close embrace. Text in the graphic reads: "This is the first MRI of a mother kissing her baby. Her kiss has caused a chemical r (Source: Africa Check)

Are there 30 service...: Are there 30 service delivery protests a day in South Africa? The destruction of shacks in Hammanskraal and burning of schools in Vuwani have once more focused South Africa's attention on so-called "service delivery protests". Most recently, the South African Broadcasting Corporation decided not to show footage of people burning public inst (Source: Africa Check)

Fake: Ignore link on Facebook to 'Emirates 37th anniversary government subsidy' – hoax and engagement bait A link posted in a public Facebook group with over 82,000 members claims "every citizen can enjoy government subsidies" from "Emirates" to celebrate its 37th anniversary. The link leads you to a page where you are required to answer a few questions and stand a chance to win "9,00 (Source: Africa Check)

Video of petrol stat...: Video of petrol station attack in Namibia – not Kenya or South Africa A video showing a white man being beaten by a group of black fuel attendants is doing the rounds on Facebook. "A white guy called a Kenyan pump attendant a MONKEY and this is how he was treated," the caption reads. The 30-second clip shows the man being chased around a petrol sta (Source: Africa Check)

Coronavirus in Lagos...: Coronavirus in Lagos, Nigeria? No, doctored story copied from report on Lassa fever in Kogi "Lagos confirms 9 cases of Coronavirus, 4 deaths," claims a 9 February 2020 article on the site FoxNewsNigeria.com . "The Lagos State Ministry of Health has confirmed nine cases of Coronavirus with four deaths recorded since the outbreak of the deadly disease in the state," it re (Source: Africa Check)

Incorrect: No, normal adults don't lose 100,000 brain cells a day, and dementia not inevitable "You lose 100,000 brain cells every day," claims a message posted on "FACTS SA", a public South African Facebook group with some 180,000 followers. It's been viewed more than 113,000 times since it was posted on 21 February 2022. This number sounds alarming, but what does it real (Source: Africa Check)

Don't be conned by s...: Don't be conned by scam Facebook page offering Naivas supermarket jobs The Facebook page " Naivas KENYA " has been scamming unemployed people in Kenya with fake offers of jobs at Naivas supermarkets since 2018. Its posts claim the supermarket chain has hundreds of jobs available. To apply, users are told to complete a Google Form . This is a common  (Source: Africa Check)

Photos not of corona...: Photos not of coronavirus outbreak – and virus not 'unknown', fatal in 'few seconds' A post on a Nigeria-based Facebook page claims the coronavirus is an "unknown virus" that kills in "under few seconds", and is punishment  for the Chinese government's alleged clampdown on Muslims in the country. It includes two photos . The first shows people in medical masks. T (Source: Africa Check)

SA teen pregnancies...: SA teen pregnancies not increasing as BBC claimed There is no evidence that teenage pregnancies in Africa are rising. Is the situation in South Africa any different? After Africa Check fact-checked a BBC.com headline earlier this year - which read "Why are teenage pregnancy rising in Africa?" - the British news organisation chan (Source: Africa Check)

No evidence Pope Fra...: No evidence Pope Francis said Biafra's independence 'God's will', UN should 'do something' A post on the blog Premium Times claims Pope Francis, the head of the worldwide Roman Catholic church, has said Biafra's independence from Nigeria is the "will of God" and the United Nations should "do something". Biafra is a region in south-eastern Nigeria. Its secession in 1967 (Source: Africa Check)

Unfortunately, Sassa...: Unfortunately, Sassa doesn't supply free school uniforms or stationery with childcare grants "To parents who receive a grant for their children," begins a message copied and shared many times on Facebook . It tells parents that if they submit their child's report card to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), along with a letter confirming where the child atte (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, lumpy skin dise...: Yes, lumpy skin disease threat to beef farming in Botswana "Lumpy skin disease outbreak threatens beef industry – Botswana," reads the headline of a 20 January 2020 article on the South African website Political Analysis . The article was shared on Facebook – and flagged as possibly false by the social network's fact-checking system , pr (Source: Africa Check)

Both Saalumarada Thi...: Both Saalumarada Thimmakka and Greta Thunberg well known for environmental work A meme was shared on Facebook in South Africa in September 2019 and tagged as potentially false by Facebook's fact-checking system . It shows two photos side by side. On the left is a photo of an older woman. Text above the photo claims that the woman is called Saalumarada Thimma (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, South Africa's...: Yes, South Africa's Khanye Colliery mine advertising learnerships on Facebook Fraudsters often use Facebook to advertise fake jobs and learnerships to unemployed people – often to con them out of an " application fee ". And Africa Check has exposed dozens of these scams . An ad offering learnerships at South Africa's Khanye Colliery in 2020 was recently po (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, Ugandan top military commander did not tell Buganda Kingdom 'we shall crush you' on Twitter A screenshot shared on Facebook appears to be a tweet from a top military officer in Uganda, threatening to "crush" the "Buganda kingdom". The tweet reads : "Buganda Kingdom. Am here to remind you that we shall crush you like we have done in the past and am assuring you that you  (Source: Africa Check)

Levels of child sexu...: Levels of child sexual abuse in South Africa even higher than activist claimed Violence against women and children has dominated South African newspaper headlines and radio chat shows. Recently, an activist told a talk show host that 25% of South African girls will be sexually abused by the time they turn 18, compared to 17% of boys. This was to show that b (Source: Africa Check)

Satire: IMF to take Kenyatta-owned Brookside Dairy as collateral for loan to Kenya government? No, headline from satirical website A screenshot of an article posted on Facebook in April 2021 says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will take milk processor Brookside Dairy as collateral for a loan to Kenya's government. "IMF under pressure agrees to take Brookside Dairy as collateral for the GoK [government (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, photos don't show actual house of Russia's president, just design concept Photos shared on Facebook show a futuristic structure like something from a James Bond movie, set on a high v-shaped platform among trees. The caption to the photos claims it is the home of a former spy – former intelligence officer and long-time Russian president Vladimir Putin. (Source: Africa Check)

Nigerian senate pres...: Nigerian senate president Saraki has not returned to the ruling party A report claiming Bukola Saraki, the president of Nigeria's senate, had returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress just months after he left in protest has been flagged by Facebook users as potentially false. Saraki was among leading politicians who left the Peoples Democra (Source: Africa Check)

Photo from World War...: Photo from World War II does not show Ethiopian soldiers guarding Italian prisoners A photograph circulating on Facebook shows a black soldier guarding multiple white soldiers near a forest. "Italian troops surrendered to Ethiopian army after they were defeated and humiated in a failed attempt to invaded Ethiopia in 1896," the facebook post says referring to a b (Source: Africa Check)

Yes, black rhino num...: Yes, black rhino numbers across Africa more than doubled in 25 years "There are about 5,500 black rhino in the wild, an increase from less than 2,500 around 25 years ago and this year," reads blurb of an article shared on Facebook in South Africa. "We can celebrate 13 more little ones!" The article was published on the popular South African "good  (Source: Africa Check)

Emaciated boy chaine...: Emaciated boy chained by father, not stepmother, and in Nigeria A meme with two photos – one of a severely malnourished child with a padlocked chain around his neck and the other of a police officer carrying the child – is circulating on Facebook in Kenya. The text reads: "This is how step mother did to some ones son. If u have your original  (Source: Africa Check)

No, UK and US not wi...: No, UK and US not withdrawing citizens from Nigeria due to 'war against Christians' A Facebook post claims the United Kingdom and the United States governments have withdrawn their citizens from Nigeria because of an impending war against Christians. "War! War!! War!!" it reads . "A terrible war is coming into Nigeria. A group of Islam are coming into Nigeria wi (Source: Africa Check)

False: A Dominion Voting Systems employee named Eric Coomer said on an “antifa conference call” prior to the 2020 election, “Don’t worry about the election, Trump’s not gonna win. I made f-----g sure of that!” The erroneous claim, whichhas been shared in the pastby major political figures and media personalities, cropped up again this week on Instagram. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The National Gallery in London is removing a portrait by Jan van Eyck due to complaints that the painting resembles Russian President Vladimir Putin. Social media users are sharing an image of “The Arnolfini Portrait” -- an oil painting by artist Jan van Eyck from 1434 -- to  claim that the museum that houses it wants to remove the art due to complaints that the subject resembles Putin. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

A video shows Presid...: A video shows President Joe Biden essentially confirming that his team coordinated the indictment of former President Donald Trump to “stop Trump from taking power again.” Thevideodates to November 2022 and shows Biden answering a question about how to reassure world leaders that Trump would not return to power. Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, in a process that did not involve the Biden administration and that wouldn’t prevent Trump from running for or winning the presidency in 2024. “Biden all but confirmed that his team is coordinating these Trump indictments to ‘stop Trump from taking power again,’” reads one Twitter post with the clip that has racked up more than 17,000 retweets. ButWhite House transcriptsandoriginal videoof the Nov. 9, 2022, event show Biden was answering a reporter’s question about how he would respond to world leaders concerned about Trump and his political movement returning to power. “Well, we just have to demonstrate that he will not take power by — if we — if he does run,” Biden replied. “I’m making sure he, under legitimate efforts of our Constitution, does not become the next President again.” The investigation into hush money payments made on behalf of Trump during his presidential campaign was conducted by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which does not take orders from the White House. A grand jury voted to indict the former president in March. The district attorney convened the grand jury in January 2023, months after Biden gave these remarks. Trump wasbooked and arraignedon Tuesday. Even if he were ultimately convicted, he would not be barred from running for the White House in 2024, or winning the presidency. The White House hasdeclined to commenton the indictment. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A video clip shows a genetically modified mosquito with a serial number on its body that has been released as part of an experiment funded by Bill Gates’ foundation. Social media users are sharing a short video claiming to show a mosquito that’s been genetically altered and branded by scientists. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: 100 million humans in the same place would emit enough radiation to be deadly. Social media users are claiming that if you put enough people together in one place, they’d emit so much radiation that it would be deadly. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Blue Cross Blue Shield pays doctors a $40,000 bonus for administering childhood immunizations to at least 100 patients under 2 years old and an $80,000 bonus for vaccinating 200 children. Social media users are recirculating a myth that’s been spreading online for years that the insurance group Blue Cross Blue Shield is using a hefty monetary incentive to entice doctors into administering as many childhood vaccinations as possible. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Video shows a large crowd of migrants climbing a fence at the United States’ southern border with Mexico. A video of people climbing a tall chain-link fence has spread widely across social media platforms in recent days, with many users suggesting that it shows migrants attempting to enter the U.S. at the southern border. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A video of ransacked Chicago Walmart —  featuring cash registers destroyed and merchandise on the floor as sirens blare  — was taken in 2023. Social media users are sharing a video of a ransacked Chicago Walmart store, falsely suggsting it was taken in recent days. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Two images available from third-party mugshot websites show Mauricio Garcia, the gunman in Sunday’s deadly shooting at a Dallas-area mall. The gunman at the Allen Premium Outlets stepped out of a car and started shooting people,killing eight and injuring several othersbefore a police officer killed him, according to authorities. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is giving itself a pay raise even as it proposes slashing federal spending for military veterans. A post circulating widely on social media claims House Republicans have hypocritically given themselves a pay bump even as they propose steep cuts in veteran’s aid and other critical federal spending amid the political showdownover thenation’s debt limit. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

The Federal Reserve...: The Federal Reserve is launching a digital currency app, FedNow, that will eliminate physical cash. FedNow is a service that allows banks and credit unions to transfer funds more quickly. It’s not a form of currency, nor is it a move toward eliminating cash, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Systemstated. FedNow has beenin the works since 2019and will launch in July 2023. In recent days, social media users have misrepresented the service, claiming it is a step toward “getting rid of physical money and having digital currency.” In response to the misinformation and confusion, the Federal Reservereiterated on Twitterthat FedNow is not a form of currency. Instead, it is a payments service that will be available to banks and credit unions, enabling them to speed up the processing of checks and electronic payments. This will mean people can access their paychecks and transfer money to other accounts instantly, any time of the day or week. Currently, these processes can take up to three days to clear and are often delayed on holidays and weekends. “FedNow has nothing to do with replacing cash. It is an upgrade to the decades old payment system,” said Aaron Klein, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, in an email to the AP. Klein noted that if banks use the service, it will make payments faster, resulting in fewer overdraft fees, late fees and visits to check cashers. Many countries already have real-time payment systems similar to FedNow, including England. The U.S. already has a real time payment network, but it’s run by private banks. The Fed is separately researching the potential to issue a digital currency, commonly referred to as a “central bank digital currency,” or CBDC. Yet that research is in its early phases and there isn’t uniform support among Fed officials for issuing such a currency. A central bank digital currency would potentially allow Americans to make electronic transactions without relying on a third party, such as a bank. “The Federal Reserve has made no decision on issuing a central bank digital currency and would not do so without clear support from Congress and the executive branch, ideally in the form of a specific authorizing law,” the Federal Reserve’s website states. “A CBDC would not replace cash or other payment options.” (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Three North Carolina...: Three North Carolina healthcare systems are diagnosing toddlers with gender dysphoria and “transitioning” them. Officials with Duke Health, University of North Carolina Health and ECU Health say that while they do accept young children as patients, staff only provide general counseling to parents and families at that age. They do not offer medical procedures such as gender-affirming surgeries or hormone treatments to toddlers. But as North Carolina lawmakersweigh legislationrestricting gender-affirming surgeries to adults, some social media users are suggesting the prominent medical institutions are already offering such medical interventions for toddlers. Many are sharing a graphic that claims Duke Health is “starting gender transitions” at 2 years old while UNC Health begins it at 3 years old and ECU Health at 4 years old. “Top medical schools in the state are now transitioning toddlers and training future primary care doctors on how to engage in the experimental treatment,” the text included with the graphic reads. “Yes, you read that correctly,” wrote one Twitter user who shared the graphic in a widely shared post. “If a 2 year old girl picks up a truck instead a Barbie, that is proof to these activist doctors that she’s actually supposed to be a boy.” The claims stem from a blog post from a conservative group supporting the North Carolina transgender surgery bill, which cites as evidence a 2016 newspaper interview with the head of Duke’s gender clinic in which she referenced having patients as young as 2. The blog post also cites a patient form used by UNC’s gender clinic which purports to show that children as young as 3 are offered “psychoeducation and support for child and family” and other services. But Duke Health said clinic staff simply provide support and counsel to families with young children wrestling with their gender identity. For prepubescent children, “there is parental support, but no testing, no treatment, not anything,” officials said in a written statement. UNC Health, in a separate response, said parents with young children can request a meeting or counseling session, but the psychiatry team won’t meet with the actual child until they’re at least school age. “To be clear: UNC Health does not offer any gender-transitioning care for toddlers,” the statement read. “We do not perform any gender-affirming surgical procedures or medical interventions on toddlers. Also, we are not doing any gender-affirming research or clinical trials involving children.” ECU Health similarly rejected the claims as “dangerous misinformation.” “To be clear: ECU Health does not offer gender affirming surgery to minors nor does the health system offer gender affirming transition care to toddlers,” it said in a written statement. The healthcare providers also stressed that a toddler’s toy preference has nothing to do with gender dysphoria, despite what the social media posts suggest. Like providers across the country, the three North Carolina health systems are following medical guidelines that have been in place for decades, according to healthcare experts and transgender advocates. Those standards generally call for small, social changes to help pre-adolescent children dealing with gender dysphoria, such as a new haircut, name, clothing or even a change in pronouns, explained Ash Orr, a spokesperson for the National Center on Transgender Equality, a Washington-based advocacy group. “At a young age, all children need love and encouragement to be who they are, do things that make them happy, and enjoy being a kid,” he wrote in an email. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Dr. Anthony Fauci “a...: Dr. Anthony Fauci “admitted” in a recent interview that face masks were a “failure.” Social media posts are misrepresenting what Fauci said about masks and COVID-19 and omitting part of his response. The nation’s former top infectious disease expert said mask initiatives may have a small impact at the community level, but in the following sentence he said he believes a properly worn, high-quality mask can be effective protection for an individual. The remarks were made in an interviewpublishedby The New York Times Magazine this week, months after Faucistepped downfrom his post as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. One tweet claims: “Now Fauci admits masks don’t work after forcing them on kids.” “So yesterday Fauci publicly admitted masks were a failure,” reads a caption on an Instagram post that received more than 6,000 likes. The post included an image quoting Fauci as saying “masks work at the margins — maybe 10 percent.” But Fauci told the AP in an email that his comments “were taken out of context and distorted.” The interviewer, David Wallace-Wells, asked Fauci about the national debate over masks, asking whether the “culture-war fights over masking” were “worth it” and citing arandomized trialconducted in Bangladesh to suggest that increased mask use reduced COVID-19 by about 10 percent. “It’s a good point in general, but I disagree with your premise a bit,” Fauci is quoted as responding. “From a broad public-health standpoint, at the population level, masks work at the margins — maybe 10 percent. But for an individual who religiously wears a mask, a well-fitted KN95 or N95, it’s not at the margin. It really does work.” In other words, Fauci was distinguishing between whether mask-wearing initiatives are effective at reducing COVID-19 in a community and whether properly worn, high-quality masks provide individuals with protection. The Bangladesh study involved providing free masks, of different varieties, as well as encouraging mask-wearing in select villages. The researchers found that mask-wearing increased to about 42% in such villages, whereas about 13% of people wore masks in villages without the interventions. Even without full mask-wearing adherence, the villages with the mask interventions observed a nearly 12% reduction in individuals with COVID-19-like symptoms. Fauci said in an email that “when you look at a study from a population standpoint you may not account for the fact even though masks are recommended and/or required, many people do not wear them some or all of the time or they do not fit properly.” “However, I made it eminently and explicitly clear that when masks are used consistently and properly, at the individual level they are highly effective,” Fauci added. Jason Abaluck, a Yale economics professor and co-author of the Bangladesh study, likewise said in an email that there are two separate questions at hand: Do high-quality masks prevent COVID-19? And do public efforts to increase masking reduce COVID-19? A key factor for the latter, Abaluck said, is whether the initiative works in getting people to actually wear the masks. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: Congressional Republicans voted to cut federal funding to Meals on Wheels, the non-government organization that delivers meals to the elderly in their homes. As Congress remains mired in a political showdown over raising thenation’s debt limit, social media users are accusing Republicans of seeking to slash a vital lifeline for millions of seniors across the country: the Meals on Wheels program. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: The vitamin K shot given to babies contains benzyl alcohol, which is toxic to newborns. The vitamin K shot is given to babies at birth to protect against bleeding that can occur early in life because of low levels of the vitamin; it’s beenrecommendedsince 1961. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Brewing company Anheuser-Busch fired its entire marketing department in response to its partnership with a transgender influencer and the rollout of LGBTQ Pride-themed Bud Light cans that feature various pronouns. The popular beer brand’s partnership with the influencer in recent days sparked a wave of transphobic commentary among conservative social media personalities, who attacked the company for supposedly turning to “woke” advertising. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Four recent shooting...: Four recent shootings show there has been an “incredible rise” in transgender or nonbinary mass shooters in the past few years, making the group “by far the largest group committing as a percentage of the population.” While specific data on transgender and nonbinary mass shooters can be hard to isolate, available information shows that the overwhelming majority of assailants in mass shootings are cisgender males. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has admitted it purposely distributed lethal batches of COVID-19 vaccinations to states with conservative-leaning populations. Social media users are falsely claiming some batches of COVID-19 vaccines are lethal and that federal authorities are knowingly handing them out in Republican-leaning areas. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: CNN cut short its primetime town hall with former President Donald Trump on Wednesday. CNN’sWednesday night town hallwith the former presidentwrapped upat 9:09 p.m. EST—69 minutes after it began at its scheduled time of 8 p.m. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Altered Photo: A photo shows President Joe Biden touching a child inappropriately below the waist. Social media users are sharing a manipulated photo to suggest Biden inappropriately touched a child below the waist. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: An aerial picture of migrants crossing a bridge, some holding flags, shows an “invasion” of the U.S. that was “authorized” by President Joe Biden. The U.S. is facing a surge of migrants at the southern border as the country prepares for the end of a policy linked to the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed officials to quickly expel many migrants, as The Associated Press hasreported. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Altered Video: A video shows Vice President Kamala Harris saying in a speech: “Today is today. And yesterday was today yesterday. Tomorrow will be today tomorrow. So live today, so the future today will be as the past today as it is tomorrow.” In the days after Harrisheadlinedthe rally in Washington, D.C., a real clip of her speech was mocked by Republicans, with one critic dubbing it a “word salad.” (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Video shows a maintenance worker sticking “duct tape” on a Spirit Airlines aircraft before takeoff. THE FACTS:A TikTok userposted a videoonTuesdaycapturing a maintenance workeroutside an airport terminalrolling and patting tape along the engine nacelle of a Spirit Airlines aircraft. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

An image shows an ex...: An image shows an explosion near the Pentagon. Police and fire officials in Arlington, Virginia, say the image is not real and there was no incident at the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters across the Potomac from the nation’s capital. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Altered Video: A video shows Sen. Dianne Feinstein returning to the U.S. Capitol in a hearse on Wednesday followinghertwo-and-a-half-month absence due to illness. THE FACTS:The89-year-old California Democrat, who wasbriefly hospitalizedwith shingles in early March,returned to the Senatefor an afternoon vote on Wednesday.Social media users began spreading the doctored clip online in the hours that followed. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A photo of a man with a bloody face shows Lagos State House of Assembly candidate Olumide Oworu after his team was attacked while campaigning in March 2023. The Labour Party candidate for a House of Assembly seat in Nigeria’s Lagos state became the subject of false claims this week, shortly before he hopes to win the office in Saturday’s elections. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The U.S. government gives immigrants who cross the country’s border illegallysmartphoneswith unlimited texting and internet access. Social media users have in recent days renewed erroneous claims about these phones,which have been used by ICE since 2018. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: A train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, was carrying a chemical that was banned in 1974. Weeks after the Feb. 3 derailment, conspiratorial claims are continuing to spread on social media. One such post suggests the train was filled with a chemical that was banned in 1974. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A photo of a plane underwater shows the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has finally been found. Social media users are sharing photos of an old, abandoned plane at the bottom of the sea, falsely claiming it shows the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which has been missing since it went down in 2014 with 239 people aboard. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A Pfizer subsidiary called Zoetis has injected mRNA vaccines into 100 million wildlife animals in the U.S. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for humans use mRNA to instruct cells to create a spike protein to fight the disease. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: There are no longer new variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The falsehood circulated across social media in recent days, with some suggesting variants are only used to distract from other issues. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: A video shows a robot attacking a human factory worker. THE FACTS:The CGI video resurfaced this week when users on Instagram and TikTok shared it as a real-life assault. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Six hundred thousand Americans die from COVID-19 shots each year. Conservative news site The Florida Standard published an article this week that gave new life on social media to an erroneous claim made by insurance analyst Josh Stirling last year at a COVID-19 vaccine roundtable hosted by Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: An advertisement shows that theInternational Legion for the Territorial Defenseof Ukraine, which the government formed for foreign fighters,is recruiting homeless Americans to join the fight against Russia. Social media users this week shared a purported ad calling for “Americans on welfare” to enlist in Ukraine’s legion of foreign fighters to join the war to earn cash. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Target’s Pride collection features a bathing suit for kids that is labeled “tuck-friendly.” Target’s seasonal collection of clothes for Pride month collection has been the subject of several misleading videos in recent weeks, with social media users claiming the retailer is selling “tuck-friendly” bathing suits designed for kids or in kids’ sizes. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A new law in Kansas authorizes genital inspections of children in order to play sports. Social media posts are claiming a new transgender athlete ban in Kansas gives school officials the authority to look at children’s genitals in order for them to play sports. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention admitted that 98 million Americans were given a “cancer virus” through the polio vaccine. An old rumor was given new life this week when an Instagram user posted a screenshot of an article making the erroneous claim. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Misleading: A new study found that ventilators were responsible for nearly all COVID-19 patient deaths. A headline shared widely on social media is spreading an erroneous narrative that COVID-19 deaths were actually caused by medical interventions, not the disease. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

COVID-19 mRNA vaccin...: COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are being added to the food supply through livestock and produce. COVID-19 vaccines are not being passed along through livestock or produce, and experts say that would not be an efficient way to immunize someone. A flurry of social media posts are falsely suggesting otherwise. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: More than 90% of all mass shootings have happened in so-called “gun-free zones.” In the wake ofMonday’s shootinga Christian school in Nashville, social media users are sharing a post that claims nearly all mass shootings happen in designated “gun-free zones” where firearms are expressly prohibited, such as schools. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

A transgender woman...: A transgender woman posted a photo of herself holding a gun and calling for violence against Christians, referencing a “Trans Day of Vengeance.” A Twitter account posted a years-old photo of MMA fighter and trans woman Alana McLaughlin holding a gun, but she did not author this post calling for violence. A screenshot of the tweet amassed thousands of shares in the wake ofMonday’s mass shootingat a private Christian school in Nashville after police said the shooter was transgender. The tweet shows McLaughlin with pink hair and a pink shirt, holding an AR-15 style gun and wearing a Glock-19 pistol with an expanded magazine on her waist, with a transgender pride flag in the background. The caption appears to advocate for violence against Christians, including the verbs “kill,” “behead,” “roundhouse,” “slam dunk,” “crucify,” “defecate in” and “launch.” Some social media posts claimed the tweet was proof McLaughlin was organizing or planning to attend an April 1 protest event outside the U.S. Supreme Court called the “Trans Day of Vengeance.” But McLaughlin, who lives in Oregon, confirmed she didn’t author the post and was not aware of where this event was taking place or planning to attend. There is no evidence the Twitter account that originally posted the violent tweet, which was later suspended from the platform, has any ties to the planned event. The event website on Wednesday featured language clarifying that it was “about unity, not inciting violence.” Noah Buchanan, co-founder of Trans Radical Activist Network, which is organizing the event, also confirmed to the AP in an email that McLaughlin is not affiliated with the protest, and reiterated that it was not intended to be a violent event. The image of McLaughlin used in social media posts dates to 2020, when it was featured in aHuck Magazine profileabout her and other LGBTQ people who said they had decided to arm themselves to stay safe amid violence directed toward their community. “It is entirely defensive,” said McLaughlin, who added that she arms herself to protect against “escalating right-wing threats.” McLaughlin said the photo had been misrepresented in other ways in the past, including in posts falsely claiming she was a soldier fighting in Ukraine. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Twitter CEO Elon Musk just revealed that Twitter’s algorithm “shadow banned” accounts using a list of terms and phrases, including “trump,” “epstein,” “soros” and “simulation.” Before Musk’s tenure, conservatives longvoiced claimsthat Twitter was “shadow banning” accounts, or preventing people from seeing their posts. The company maintained it didn’t ban people based on political ideology, but instead used behavioral signals to reduce the visibility of “unhealthy” conversations by displaying them less prominently. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

A White House press...: A White House press release says that Dr. Monica Bertagnolli,President Joe Biden’s pickto lead the National Institutes of Health, received tens of millions of dollars in research money from Pfizer. The image circulating online has been manipulated; the official announcement didn’t include the funding statistics. Additionally, while Pfizer awarded grants to a nonprofit that Bertagnolli headed up, the money did not go directly to her. The Biden administration, Bertagnolli and the nonprofit have confirmed the funding was largely used to support a major breast cancer clinical trial. But social media users are sharing the misleading screenshot, which includes the same headline and letterhead asMonday’s news releasefrom the White House, but then goes on to say: “From 2015 through 2021, Bertagnolli received more than 116 grants from Pfizer, totaling $290.8 million. This amount made up 89% of all her research grants.” “So basically Joe Biden’s nominating Pfizer to run the National Institutes of Health,” wrote one Twitter user who shared the screenshot. “This is open, evil Big Pharma corruption.” But the passage referencing the Pfizer money was not included in the White House announcement. Instead, it comes from a 2022 story by the Daily Signal, a political news website published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. The story ran after Bertagnolli was tapped to lead the National Cancer Institute, which is under NIH. It cites data from aCenter for Medicare & Medicaid Services databasethat tracks payments certain health care providers receive from drug and medical device companies. The public database shows Pfizer’s grants went to theAlliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, a nonprofit foundation that supports cancer research. Bertagnolli served as its president until becoming director at NCI. The Biden administration stressed the grants were awarded to the nonprofit, not directly to Bertagnolli. “This not-for-profit ran large, nationwide clinical trials on cancer prevention,” Emilie Simons, a White House spokesperson, wrote in an email to The Associated Press. “Funding for large clinical trials like these come from a number of sources, including companies participating in the trials. That’s standard.” Bertagnolli didn’t respond to emails seeking comment, but the Daily Signal article quotes her as saying in a statement that the Pfizer funding went to Alliance, and that “virtually all” of that money went towards a breast cancer clinical trial involving more than 6,000 patients across multiple countries. “The funding was distributed across many different health care institutions—both academic and community—to conduct the trial,” she said in the statement. Suzanne George, the alliance’s interim chair, backed up Bertagnolli’s comments, saying the majority of the funding supportedclinical trials of palbociclib, which was developed by Pfizer under the brand name Ibrance for the treatment of breast cancer. “Dr. Bertagnolli did not directly or personally receive any of these funds,” she wrote in an email. Pfizer, meanwhile, declined to comment specifically on Bertagnolli or the research it funded, but said in a written statement that “grantees are not individuals but rather institutions chosen for their credentials and experience.” (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: After throwing a boomerang that hit his head upon its return, a man in Kentucky won a lawsuit he filed against himself for $300,000. The decades-old story has been given new life in recent days by social media users, who are sharing a screenshot of a 1996 South China Morning Post articlewhich reportedits own version of the fabricated story as real. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Footage purporting to show astronauts aboard the International Space Station is staged and was actually filmed on Earth. Some social media users are reviving a long-running conspiracy theory that no one is actually manning the wheel in the International Space Station that’s been orbiting Earth for more than two decades now. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A disheveled room with transgender and NATO flags seen in a widespread photo belonged to the shooter who killed six people at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, this week. Social media users are spreading the image to suggest it shows the bedroom of Audrey Hale, the 28-year-old whokilledthree adults and three young students at the The Covenant School on Monday. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A video shows a “triple jabbed Australian surgeon” in a green gown experiencing a stroke. A years-old video is circulating on social media with the false suggestion it shows a doctor suffering from an ailment relating to COVID-19 vaccines. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Oktoberfest in Germany banned Budweiser brands. Claims that the prominent beer brand was banned from Oktoberfest, Munich’s world-famous annual beer festival, are spreading widely on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook and TikTok, with many users sharing a blog post as evidence. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: CLAIM:Merck is on trial for fraud regarding its human papillomavirus vaccine, which has been banned in other countries and has been found to cause cancer. Social media users are sharing a post warning of the purported dangers of vaccines to prevent cancer-causing HPV by pointing out that Merck faces legal action for its inoculation. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Chelsea Clinton said, “It’s time to force-jab every unvaccinated child in America.” Social media users are sharing a screenshot of a baseless article with a headline reading: “Chelsea Clinton: ‘It’s Time To Force-Jab Every Unvaccinated Child in America.’” (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The United Nations said that “children must have sexual partners.” Social media posts are sharing an image baselessly attributing the quote to the U.N. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A photo shows former President Donald Trump alongside both his pregnant wife, former first lady Melania Trump, and porn star Stormy Daniels. As Donald Trump on Tuesdayprepares to surrender himselfand be arraigned in Manhattan oncriminal chargesstemming from 2016 hush money payments to Daniels, social media users are spreading an old, altered image of Trump with both his pregnant wife and Daniels. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

The Federal Reserve...: The Federal Reserve is launching a new program that will give it the power to monitor, freeze and even seize private bank accounts based on a person’s behavior or political beliefs. Fed officials and banking experts say the newFedNow servicedoes not give the agency additional surveillance and enforcement authorities. They say the service simply replaces the agency’s outdated system for banks to process checks and electronic payments. Yet social media posts are sharing a lengthy blog piece with the headline “U.S. Government Docket No. OP-1670 Exposes New Fed Power to Seize Control of U.S. Bank Accounts.” The blog item claims a secretive government initiative “gives unelected officials the power to closely monitor or even freeze your account based on your behavior, and potentially even based on your political views.” It also claims the system would give government officials the power to monitor a person’s investments, restricting how much they can invest or contribute to certain companies, causes and political parties. But the government document referenced by the post —Docket No. OP-1670— suggests nothing of the sort, Fed officials and banking experts say. Instead, they say, it details the creation of FedNow, a new service set to launch this summer that will allow banks and credit unions to speed up the dayslong process of clearing checks and electronic payments. “The Fed and FedNow cannot access individuals’ bank accounts or control how they choose to spend their money,” the agency said in an emailed statement. Aaron Klein, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a think tank in Washington, D.C., concurred. He said the Fed is simply revamping its outdatedAutomated Clearinghouse system, which is the network financial institutions use to send each other electronic credit and debit transfers such as payroll direct deposits, social security benefits and tax refunds. “They are upgrading their current system that runs on 1950s tech to one that’s modern,” Klein explained in an email. “It’s like changing from Blockbuster to Netflix.” Nicholas Anthony, a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, another Washington-based research group, noted that banking institutions are already required to report suspicious financial behavior and other potential threats under the federalBank Secrecy Act, which was enacted in 1970 to crack down on money laundering and the financing of terrorism. There isn’t anything secretive about the planned system, either, as the blog post claims, Anthony noted. The Fed has providedregular updateson the process, launched afrequently asked questions pageand even published a notice in theFederal Register early in the process in order to solicit public feedback. The blog post appears to wrongly conflate the forthcoming FedNow system with digital currency, commonly referred to as a “central bank digital currency,” or CBDC, which the Fed has also said it is exploring, Anthony and other experts say. Fed officials have stressed FedNow is unrelated to the notion of a government-run digital currency, which social media users also falsely claim would lead to theelimination of cash. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The U.S. is not providing cash to Ukraine; it only supports the country through donated military equipment. Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a Republican from Illinois, made the inaccurate suggestion recently while taking aim at Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been critical of U.S. aid to Ukraine. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley “changed” her name for political reasons. Haleyannouncedher run for president last week, making the former South Carolina governor the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: An image shows a 103-year-old bride. THE FACTS:Many users on social media have shared the image on Facebook and Twitter in recent days, suggesting it shows a real centenarian bride. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Using tampons can cause endometriosis by pushing endometrial cells back up into “your belly cavity.” A common condition that involves abnormal tissue growth from the uterus and can cause severe pain and infertility isn’t caused by menstrual products, despite social media posts claiming otherwise. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The Federal Reserve is launching a digital currency app, FedNow, that will eliminate physical cash. FedNow is a service that has beenin the works since 2019and will launch in July 2023. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Starbucks is imposing a $1 surcharge for ordering iced beverages without ice or less ice. Outraged social media users are claiming the coffee shop giant is making it more expensive for customers to ask for less in their coffee. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Bud Light created a billboard advertisement that reads, “lol CRYBABIES,” after the company was targeted by calls for a boycott over a partnership with a transgender influencer. After a wave oftransphobic commentaryand threats of a boycott sparked this month by Bud Light’s partnership with transgender social media influencer Dylan Mulvaney, social media users are sharingaltered images of the billboard —both in photos and video —claiming that the brand has responded to its critics. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: Greta Thunberg recently deleted a tweet she posted in 2018 in which she said that the world will end in 2023. Social media users and conservative commentators are taking the climate activist’s 2018 tweet out of context to push the claim that Thunberg is backtracking on a previous stance. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A pre-print study found that the COVID-19 vaccines cause long-term brain damage. Social media posts are circulating a headline that misrepresents a study exploring the ramifications of COVID-19 on the brain, falsely suggesting the research was centered on vaccines. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A video showsa Boston Dynamics robot that has learned how to fight doing a backflip and throwing punches. THE FACTS:Social media usershave shared the videowidelyin recent days, suggesting that the robotics design company has taught one of its products to hold its own in hand-to-hand combat. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A transgender woman posted a photo of herself holding a gun and calling for violence against Christians, referencing a “Trans Day of Vengeance.” A screenshot of the tweet amassed thousands of shares in the wake ofMonday’s mass shootingat a private school in Nashville, where police have said the shooter was transgender. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The planet has an unlimited supply of oil. A video claiming that oil is an “unlimited” resource has spread widely among social media users on Instagram and Twitter in recent days. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case to remove President Joe Biden from office and reinstate former President Donald Trump in his place. Nearly one week after the Supreme Courtjusticesdoubled down ontheirdecision not to hear the suit, social media usersfalsely claimedthe opposite. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A widespread photo of an owl resting on a blue pad shows that the birds can sit with their legs crossed like humans. A misconception about owls is spreading its wings online, giving users a fun factoid that doesn’t stand up. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: An image of U.S. Rep. George Santosin a gray sweater and blue jacket is a mugshot taken Wednesday after he was indicted on federal charges. THE FACTS:As Santospleaded not guiltyWednesday in the Eastern District of New York onchargesof wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds and making false statements to Congress,social media usersspread the image online,falsely claimingitis his mugshot. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Three North Carolina healthcare systems are diagnosing toddlers with gender dysphoria and “transitioning” them. As North Carolina lawmakersweigh legislationrestricting gender-affirming surgeries to adults, some social media users are suggesting some of the state’s most prominent medical institutions are already offering such medical interventions in toddlers. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Former President Barack Obama removed 500,000 pedophiles from a background check database. Social media users are sharing a years-old falsehood that misrepresents a change made to the FBI-operated database used for firearms background checks. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Dr. Anthony Fauci “admitted” in a recent interview that face masks were a “failure.” Fauci, whostepped downat the end of last year from his post as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, remains a polarizing figure online. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Video clip shows U.S. soldier opening a gate on a border fence and allowing migrants to enter the country illegally, in violation of U.S. code. Withlast week’send of asylum restrictionsimposed during the coronavirus pandemic, social media users have been sharing videos purporting to show how migrants are now crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in droves. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: It is a double standard that former President Donald Trump may be indicted over alleged hush money payments to a woman who accused him of sexual encounters, while former President Bill Clinton faced no criminal charges for paying a sexual harassment accuser $850,000. As a Manhattan grand jury weighs whether to indict Trump over hush money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign, social media users are spreading inaccurate comparisons of Trump’s case and one involving Clinton 25 years ago. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A video taken from a balcony shows a sea of protesters packing the street outside former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s London home in response to this week’s arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Numerous videos circulating online this week do show unrest and protests inresponse to Khan’s arreston corruption charges, including in London. However, some social media users are sharing a video of the 2022 protest, falsely claiming it is recent. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A public bus called “Not the 48” in Brussels takes riders to a mystery location for free. If a free, adventurous mystery bus in the heart of Belgium seems too good to be true, it’s because it is. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A court in the Philippines has issued an international arrest warrant for Microsoftco-founder Bill Gates over crimes related to COVID-19 vaccines. Social media users are spreading a fabricated article from a hoax news site to baselessly claim that the billionaire philanthropist is under an international arrest order for “premeditated murder” as part of an investigation into the COVID-19 vaccine roll out. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The Federal Reserve is launching a new program that will give it the power to monitor, freeze and even seize private bank accounts based on a person’s behavior or political beliefs. A post circulating widely on social media claims a new government program will give the Federal Reserve broad powers to monitor and seize people’s personal bank funds. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that transgender women get screened for cervical cancer. Social media users are mischaracterizing the Canadian Cancer Society’s guidance on cervical cancer among trans women to suggest that the organization is urging all members of the group to be routinely tested for the disease, which primarily affects only those who have a cervix. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A White House press release says that Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health, received tens of millions of dollars in research money from Pfizer. Social media users are sharing a misleading image to suggestBiden’s pickto lead one of the world’s leading biomedical research agencies has concerning ties to the pharmaceutical industry. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul approved amemo“denying white people certain medical treatments.” A blog and related Facebook post are distorting old guidance from New York state to suggest that Hochul recently acted to withhold medical treatments from white people. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A safety data sheet for Apeel Sciences, a company that makes a protective coating used to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, shows that its product can cause eye damage and allergic skin reactions. California-basedApeel Sciencesmarkets that its plant-based solution can keep fruits and vegetables fresh and at their prime longer — and that it’s edible, too. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Videos show empty gr...: Videos show empty grocery store shelves in Florida because truckers are boycotting the state over a new immigration law. While both clips show Florida stores, neither has anything to do with the new law or a boycott. One is from October and shows shortages during Hurricane Ian, while another shows a recent refrigeration issue at a single Walmart Supercenter. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A woman in Summit, Arkansas, was arrested on Friday after she trained deer to attack hunters and fed the animals meth. A fabricated storyillustrated withthe photos is circulating widely on social media. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: A photo of a person holding a sign featuring pink, blue and white guns and the words “trans rights… or else” shows the shooter who killed six people at a private Christian school in Nashville,Tennessee, on Monday. The photo circulated widely online after the police chief identified the shooter as transgender in a late afternoon news conference on Monday. Police had previously identified the shooter as female. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The World Health Organization is working on an agreement among nations regarding future pandemics that would “bypass” the U.S. Senate and “reshape America.” Social media users are casting doubt over ongoing talks to improve the world’s response to pandemics, mischaracterizing it as a thinly veiled threat to U.S. sovereignty. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: BlackRock has a substantial stake in both Dominion Voting Systems and Fox Corporation, soDominion’s lawsuit against Foxwas really BlackRock suing itself. Wall Street giant BlackRock wasn’t embroiled in therecently settled defamation lawsuitbetween Dominion and Fox, despite a popular conspiracy theory claiming otherwise. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Altered Image: A screenshot shows aMay 11 piece published by The Guardian in which columnist George Monbiot says hecaught COVID-19 23 times despite “dozens of boosters.” Social media users are sharing the purported screenshot, suggesting it shows a real column.“I’ve caught Covid for the 23rd time despite having had dozens of boosters (I’ve lost count). Thank heavens for the vaccine,” reads the headline in the image, which is made to appear as a screenshot of a column dated May 11 on the Guardian website. The supposed column is attributed to Monbiot. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The maker of Bud Light is going bankrupt as it faces ongoing backlash over a marketing campaign featuring a transgender social media personality. Social media users are heralding the demise of the company behind Bud Light and many of the world’s most popular beer labels. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Missing Context: A video clip shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying that Americans will have to send their “sons and daughters” to the war in Ukraine. The clip, cut from a two-hour livestreamednews conferenceon the somberone-year anniversaryofRussia’s war on Ukraine, shows Zelenskyy speaking with the audio dubbed by a translator. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

Altered Photo: A photo showsa manin Poland gesturing with both his middle fingers at President Joe Biden. A day after asurprise visit to Kyiv, Bidengave astrongly worded addresson Tuesday in neighboring Poland and vowed that the United States and allies “will not waver” in supporting the Ukrainians as Russia’s invasion nears the one-year mark. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Mortgage contracts will soon be “null and void” because U.S. banks are switching to digital currency. Social media users are claiming Americans soon won’t have to pay what they owe on their homes because banks are preparing to switch to an all-digital currency. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are no longer authorized in the U.S. because of safety concerns. The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesdayannouncedthat anyone getting a COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna moving forward will receive a “bivalent” shot. Thebivalent vaccinesrolled out last fall as a booster dose and consist of half the original recipe and half protection against the BA.4 and BA.5 versions of omicron. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called in the National Guard to block all entrancestoDisney World. THE FACTS:The claim spread Wednesdayamid news thatDisney had sued DeSantisin an effort to regain control of the resort’s self-governing district. (Source: Associated Press - AP News)

False: Study shows ventilators "killed nearly all Covid patients" A headline shared across social media claims ventilators "killed nearly all Covid patients." This is false; the article misrepresents a study that only looked at outcomes for patients who would have died from respiratory failure had they not been offered mechanical life support, according to one of the researchers. (Source: Agence France-Presse - AFP)

Fake: Did lawyer Miguna Miguna say Kenyan president's diplomacy was 'shambolic'? No, quote fabricated IN SHORT: After a series of blunders, a top lawyer has criticised Kenyan president William Ruto and his cabinet, according to a graphic circulating online. But the news card is fake. A Facebook user has posted what appears to be a graphic from the Nation, a major Kenyan news site (Source: Africa Check)

False: No, hackers can't copy your contact list or steal banking details simply by phoning you – ignore widely shared claim IN SHORT: A message dating as far back as 2012 is once again circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp, warning the public not to answer or call back numbers with certain country codes. It claims this is how hackers are able to get your personal information, but that's not true. "The  (Source: Africa Check)

False: Has Brian Stelter Been Arrested? A postshared on Facebookclaims former CNN host Brian Stelter was arrested by the U.S. military on allegations of sex crimes against children. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did The Washington Post Publish This Article About A ‘Homophobic Dog’? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows an article from The Washington Post titled, “This dog is the new face of online homophobia.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Is Pfizer Developing A COVID-19 Pill To Be Taken Every Day After Being Vaccinated? A postshared on Twitterclaims that Pfizer is developing a “COVID Pill” meant to be taken twice a day “alongside” COVID-19 vaccines. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Lindsey Graham Being Heckled At The Airport For His Stance On Gun Control? A videoshared on Facebookpurportedly shows Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham being called a traitor at an airport for his stance on gun control. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, The USDA Is Not Predicting A Dozen Eggs Will Cost $12 By Fall 2022 A postshared on Facebookclaims the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted the price of a dozen eggs will be $12 “by Fall 2022.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did R. Kelly Perform Concerts In Prison? Photosshared on Twitterallegedly show convicted sex trafficker and former singer R. Kelly performing in prison. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Are Thieves Using Face Masks Doused In Chemicals To Rob People? Aviral Facebook postshared more than 1,700 times claims thieves are handing out chemically doused face masks to knock people out before robbing them. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, This Image Of A Sunset From Space Was Not Captured By NASA An imageshared on Facebookmore than 650 times claims to show a NASA photograph of a sunset taken from space. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Do These Videos Show A Rocket Hitting The Moon? A videoshared on Facebookallegedly shows two views of a rocket crashing into the moon. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was Brian Stelter Executed? A postshared on Facebookpurports former CNN anchor Brian Stelter was executed by the U.S. military following his conviction for crimes against children. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Jill Biden Say, ‘All Americans Will Be Required To Learn Spanish When We Win’? Aviral Facebook postclaims Jill Biden, the wife of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, said, “All Americans will be required to learn Spanish when we win.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Starbucks Call To Defund The Police? An imageshared on Facebookmore than 94,000 times claims Starbucks has called for police departments to be defunded. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show Joe Biden With Jeffrey Epstein? An imageshared on FacebookandTwitterallegedly shows President Joe Biden and deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein smiling for a picture together. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Has Jimmy Carter Endorsed Bernie Sanders For President? An articleshared on Facebookclaims former President Jimmy Carter recently endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is This Alleged Neo-Nazi The Deputy Commander Of The Kyiv Police? An imageshared on Facebookclaims alleged neo-Nazi Artem Bonov is the deputy commander of the Kyiv police. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Ocasio-Cortez Tweet About Electric Cars During Hurricane Dorian? An imageshared on Facebookalleges that Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, “I see people are rushing out to fill up their cars for this hurricane at the gas station This wouldn’t be an issue if they had electric cars.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, Chris Rock Is Not Pressing Charges Against Will Smith A postshared on Facebookclaims comedian Chris Rock decided to press charges against actor Will Smith after the on-stage altercation at the Academy Awards. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Did Reagan Appoint The First Black National Security Advisor, Hispanic Cabinet Member? Mark Weinberg, aide to former President Ronald Reagan, claimed Wednesday that his old boss appointed the first black national security advisor, as well as the first Hispanic cabinet member. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show Justin Trudeau Participating In A Protest In Support Of Indian Farmers? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attending a sit-in protest in support of Indian farmers against a new agriculture law. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is Arizona’s Voting Equipment Not Certified? A videoshared on Twitterclaims that Arizona’s voting equipment is not certified, which in turn prevents the election from being verified. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Has The Pentagon Surrendered Norfolk Naval Base To NATO? An imageshared on Facebookclaims the Pentagon surrendered Norfolk Naval Base to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Did Acts Of Anti-Semitism Increase More Than 50 Percent In 2017? Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff claimed Sunday on “State of the Union” that acts of anti-Semitism increased 50 percent in 2017. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Have Federal Compliance Costs Increased ‘Nearly Sevenfold’ Over The Last 20 Years? Republican Sen. Mike LeeclaimedTuesday that the cost to comply with federal regulations has increased “nearly sevenfold” in the last 20 years. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Trump Say He Got ‘F–ked Out Of The 2020 Election’ At His Daughter’s Wedding? A postshared on Instagrampurports former President Donald Trump said he got “f–ked out of the 2020 election” at his daughter Tiffany’s wedding Saturday. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did The Associated Press Report ‘The Ghost Of Kyiv’ Was Shot Down? An imageshared on Facebookclaims the Associated Press reported that “The Ghost of Kyiv” was “shot down.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show An Antifa Activist That Trump Supporters Duct Taped To An Electrical Box? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows an antifa activist duct taped to an electrical box by Trump supporters. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show Australian Fires From Above? An imageshared on Facebookmore than 2,800 times purportedly shows the Australian wildfires from above. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did The Canadian Government Include Black Rifle Coffee Company Products In Its Recent Assault-Style Weapons Ban? An imageshared on Facebookclaims the Canadian government included Black Rifle Coffee Company products in its recent assault-style weapons ban. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Donald Trump Say, ‘People Are Dying That Have Never Died Before’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims President Donald Trump said on March 17, “People are dying that have never died before.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did CNN Publish This Article About Kellogg’s Making One Of Its Mascots A Trans Woman? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows an article published by CNN with a headline that reads, “Kellogg’s spokesperson announces Rice Krispie mascot ‘Pop’ is now a trans woman.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Joe Biden Announce That All Americans Will Receive ‘Gas Checks’? A postshared on Facebookclaims President Joe Biden announced that all American citizens would receive a $1,000 check for gas. (Source: Check Your Fact)

A Postshared On Facebookclaims That There Is “Absolutely Zero” Footage Of The Russian-Ukrainian ConflictFalse: Is There ‘Absolutely Zero Footage’ Of The Russian-Ukrainian Conflict? A postshared on Facebookclaims that there is “absolutely zero” footage of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.Verdict: False (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Bill Gates Say That ‘The Public Must Be Silenced’? A postshared on Facebookclaims Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said that “the public must be silenced” so that they will buy his vaccine. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Post Claims Ellen DeGeneres Is Giving Away $5,000 To 100 People Who Like And Comment On It Aviral Facebook postclaims that talk show host Ellen Degeneres will give away $5,000 to 100 people who like and comment on it. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Have Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, The WHO And Others Been Charged With War Crimes? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a document suggesting that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and top White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, among others, must appear at a human rights tribunal for war crimes. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is CNN’s Atlanta, Georgia Headquarters Closing Due To Financial Losses? A postshared on Facebookclaims CNN is closing its Atlanta, Georgia headquarters due to “low ratings and extreme financial losses.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was Chuck Schumer ‘Caught Red-Handed’ In A Finance Case Involving Biden And Schiff? A videoshared on Facebookpurports New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer was allegedly “caught red-handed” in President Joe Biden’s finance case with California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Daily Mail Report That Prince William Called Camilla ‘C Consort?’ An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows a screenshot of a Daily Mail headline that reports that Prince William referred to King Charles III’s wife Camilla as the “C** Consort.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Has Joe Donnelly Never Had A Single Bill Passed Into Law? President Donald Trump said at his Indianacampaign rallyThursday that Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly has “never sponsored a bill that has become a law.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Do 92% Of Americans Support DACA? President Donald TrumpclaimedThursday that 92 percent of Americans support the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Joe Biden Say ‘People Who Have Never Died Before Are Now Dying From Corona Virus’? An imageshared on Facebookmore than 200 times claims former Vice President Joe Biden said, “People who have never died before are now dying from corona virus [sic].” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was A White Supremacist Invited To The White House A Day After The Midterms? People on Twitter said Wednesday that Patrick Casey, executive director of the white nationalist group Identity Evropa, was invited to the White House after hetweetedphotos of himself in front of the building’s south front the day after the midterm elections. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show South African Children Killed By COVID-19 Vaccines? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows children in South Africa who died after receiving COVID-19 vaccines. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Have There Been 60 Million Abortions Since Roe v. Wade? Twitter users recently claimed that 60 million abortions have been performed in the U.S. since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Were Over A Dozen Bull Sharks Accidentally Dumped in The Ouachita River? An imageshared on Facebookclaims a highway accident resulted in over a dozen bull sharks being dumped in the Ouachita River in Arkansas. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Congress Hide Language That ‘Nullifies’ The Insurrection Act In The COVID Relief And Government Spending Package? AnInstagram postclaims Congress hid language that “nullifies” the Insurrection Act in the $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and government spending package. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Nigerians Fleeing From Gunfire? A videoshared on Facebookallegedly shows a crowd of people running away from gunfire in Abuja, Nigeria. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was Joe Biden Involved In A Plot To Kidnap JFK Jr? Aviral Facebook postclaims that former Vice President Joe Biden was involved in a plot to kidnap John F. Kennedy Jr., the son of former President John F. Kennedy. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is The Supreme Court Considering A Case To Reinstate Donald Trump As President? A postshared on Facebookclaims the Supreme Court is considering a case to remove President Joe Biden from office and reinstate former President Donald Trump. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Queen Elizabeth Praise Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte In A Speech? An imageshared on Facebookclaims Queen Elizabeth II praised Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a televised speech on April 6. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Do These Images Show A Spider Whose Venom Will Kill A Human In 5 Minutes? A postshared on Facebookclaims to show pictures of a “poisonous spider” whose venom is capable of killing a human in five minutes. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Paris Church Bells Ringing To Celebrate Joe Biden’s Election? A videoshared on Facebookpurportedly shows Paris church bells ringing to celebrate the Nov. 7 announcement that President-elect Joe Biden won the election. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Was The Last Time The US ‘Substantially’ Reformed The Tax Code In 1986? The House Republicans’ Twitter handle claimed that the U.S. has not “really reformed our tax code since 1986” in a Thursdaytweet. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: MSNBC’s Joy Reid Claims Moderna And Pfizer ‘Were Not Involved In Operation Warp Speed’ During a Nov. 17 segment, MSNBC’s Joy Reid claimed the pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer “were not involved in Operation Warp Speed.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Patrick Mahomes Say, ‘I’ve Been Looking Forward To Meeting President Trump For A While’? AnInstagram postclaims Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said of a possible White House visit, “I really hope it’s not changed. I’ve been looking forward to meeting President Trump for a while. That might offend some people, but oh well.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did A 1927 Newspaper Article Report That Five Billionaires Bought The US? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a newspaper article from 1927 with a headline that claims the U.S. was sold to five billionaires. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show Ukrainian Firefighters? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows three Ukrainian firefighters covered in ash. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Elon Musk Increase The Price Of Twitter Blue Verification To $15 Per Month? A postshared onTwitterclaims Twitter CEO Elon Musk has raised the price of Twitter Blue verification from $8 per month to $15 per month. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show People ‘Waiting For Lionel Messi’ In Paris? An imageshared on Facebookover 400 times allegedly shows thousands of people packed onto the streets of Paris “waiting for Lionel Messi.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Has Russia Withdrawn All Troops from Ukraine? A videoshared on Facebookclaims Russia has withdrawn all of their troops from Ukraine after failing to conquer the country. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Do Members Of Congress Receive Full-Pay Retirement Benefits After Serving Just One Term? An imageshared on Facebookmore than 32,000 times claims members of Congress receive full-pay retirement benefits after serving just one term. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Trump Supporters Protesting Against Trump’s Possible Arrest In New York? A videoshared on Facebookclaims to show supporters of former President Donald Trump protesting against his possible arrest in New York City. (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Viral Video Of Kamala Harris During A Recent Speech Is Edited A videoshared on Twitterpurports Vice President Kamala Harris said, “Today is today, and yesterday was today yesterday” during a recent speech. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was The Grandmother Of Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Photographed With Adolf Hitler? A postshared on Facebookclaims the grandmother of Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was photographed alongside Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Donald Trump Jr Say Texas Has A Democratic Governor? Some journalists and political commentators claimed on Twitter that Donald Trump Jr., the son of former President Donald Trump, said Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is a Democrat. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show A Nazi-Themed Coca-Cola Ad From 1936? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a Nazi-themed Coca-Cola ad sponsoring the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Authorities In Switzerland Arrest Klaus Schwab? An imageshared on Facebook200 times claims Swiss police arrested World Economic Forum executive chairman Klaus Schwab on Nov. 13. (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Will Tricare Provide Free Baby Formula And Ship It Directly To Anyone Who Applies? A postshared on Facebookover 830 times claims military health care provider Tricare will ship free baby formula out to those who fill out a form. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Facebook Post Falsely Claims JFK Jr. Is Vice President Aviral Facebook postclaims John F. Kennedy Jr. is currently vice president of the U.S. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Leonardo Da Vinci Say, ‘Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication’? A postshared on Facebookclaims that Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci once stated, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Nancy Pelosi Tweet She Was ‘Disgusted’ With Trump For ‘Allowing People To Keep More Of The Money They Earn’? An imageshared on Facebookmore than 121,000 times claims House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tweeted, “I am disgusted with ‘President’ Trump allowing people to keep more of the money they earn.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, Video Does Not Show The Boston Dynamics Robot FIghting A videoshared on social mediapurports to be a video from Boston Dynamics showing a robot practicing hand-to-hand combat. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, This Image Does Not Show The Colosseum Carved Into A Real Tooth An imageshared on Facebookover 600 times allegedly shows a real tooth with a replica of the Colosseum carved into it. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did The New York Post Run A ‘You’re Fired’ Cover? Apost on Instagramclaims the Nov. 4 cover of the New York Post features a picture of President Donald Trump along with a headline reading, “You’re Fired!” (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Do These Pictures Show Ancient Egyptian Dentistry From 4,000 Years Ago? Imagesshared on Facebookover 1,800 times allegedly show Egyptian human remains that feature dental work from 2000 B.C. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is Climate Change A ‘Bigger Fiscal Issue’ Than Entitlements? Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI)tweeted, “Climate change is a bigger fiscal issue than entitlements,” in response to a newGovernment Accountability Office reportestimating that federal government spends billions of dollars due to climate change each year, and is unprepared for impending increases in these costs. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Do You Die For A Millisecond When You Sneeze? A postshared on Facebookclaims you die for a millisecond when you sneeze. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show A July 12 Protest In Cuba? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows anti-government protesters in Cuba on July 12. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Trump Touts Best GDP Growth In 14 Years UPDATE: On March 28, the government released a revised report on GDP growth in 2018. According to the new estimate, real GDP increased 3.0 percent from Q4 2017 to Q4 2018. (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Did The IRS Donate To Katie Hobbs’ Campaign? A videoshared on Instagramalleges the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) donated to Arizona Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs’ campaign. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Karine Jean-Pierre Send A TikTok To Reporters? A postshared on Twitterpurports White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said reporters received a “TikTok.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Shakespeare Say, ‘The Earth Has Music For Those Who Listen’? A post shared onFacebookalleges that playwright William Shakespeare once stated, “The earth has music for those who listen.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Say He Does Not Care About Ukraine? A postshared on Facebookclaims Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he does not care about Ukraine because he is Hungarian. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Kanye West Riding A Donkey Into Church? A videoshared on Facebookmore than 32,000 times allegedly shows rapper Kanye West riding a donkey during a church service. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Trey Gowdy Claim ‘Treasonous Acts’ Occurred During The 2020 Election? An imageshared on Facebookclaims former South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy alleged the 2020 election was rigged through “treasonous acts.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Did This 7-Eleven Sell Gas For $7.11? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows a 7-Eleven gas station selling gasoline for the price of $7.11. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Post Makes False Claim About North Carolina Gubernatorial Vote Counts An imageshared on Facebookclaims the combined vote tallies for two North Carolina gubernatorial candidates exceeded the number of people who voted in the state elections. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Patrick Henry Say The US Was Founded On Christianity? A postshared on Facebookclaims that founding father Patrick Henry said, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is There ‘No Evidence’ Tax Cuts Lead To Economic Growth? Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich said there’s no evidence tax cuts have ever led to economic growth onCNN Tuesday. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Depict Elon Musk Saying Trump Won The 2020 Election? A videoshared on Facebookallegedly shows Twitter CEO Elon Musk claiming former President Donald Trump won the 2020 election. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Trey Gowdy Write This Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory? Aviral Facebook postshared more than 1,100 times purportedly contains a COVID-19 conspiracy theory written by former South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy. (Source: Check Your Fact)

Unsubstantiated: Does The US Have A ‘$71 Billion’ Trade Deficit With Mexico? President Donald Trump claimed that the U.S. has “a trade deficit right now with Mexico of $71 billion” during a Wednesday interview with Fox Business’ Lou Dobbs. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Donald Trump Tweet, ‘Some Oldies Will Have To Die’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims President Donald Trump tweeted, “Some oldies will have to die. We’re in God’s hands, folks! Liberate America!” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Image Of Lauren Boebert Holding A Rifle And A Bible Is Altered An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows Republican Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert holding a rifle and a Bible. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show A Human Face From A ‘Cannibal Meat Market’? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a human face from a “cannibal meat market” in China. (Source: Check Your Fact)

Misleading: Does This Image Show Russian Conscripts With Mosin-Nagant Rifles? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows Russian conscripts with 19th-century era Mosin-Nagant bolt-action rifles. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Are Unvaccinated FEMA Health Care Workers Replacing Nurses And Doctors Who Refuse To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19? Aviral Instagram postclaims that Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) health care workers are replacing nurses and doctors who refuse to get COVID-19 vaccines and that the FEMA workers are not required to be vaccinated. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Letter From British Government To Ukrainian Refugee Hosts Is Not Real A postshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a letter from the British Government requesting hosts of Ukrainian refugees report any men over the age of 18. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Forbes Estimate Jen Psaki’s Net Worth Is $27 Million? An imageshared on Facebookclaims Forbes estimated former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki’s net worth as $27 million. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Trump Tweet That He Won’t Send Coronavirus Stimulus Checks To People Who Tweet ‘#NotMyPresident’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims President Donald Trump tweeted that he will not send coronavirus stimulus checks to people who tweeted “#NotMyPresident” in the last four years. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Mike Tyson Praying In A Los Angeles Coffee Shop Where ‘Dogs And Muslims Are Not Allowed’? A videoshared on Facebookpurportedly shows former professional boxer Mike Tyson praying in a Los Angeles coffee shop with a “Dogs and Muslims are not allowed” sign on the door. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Do Only 12 Percent Of UN Member States Allow Gay Marriage? Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal claimed on Twitter that only 12 percent of U.N. member states allow same-sex marriage. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was Rachel Levine Featured On A Vanity Fair Magazine Cover? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows Dr. Rachel Levine, President Joe Biden’s nominee for assistant secretary of health, tweeting “thank you” to Vanity Fair for featuring her on a magazine cover. (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Do The Senators Who Voted To Confirm Kavanaugh Represent 44 Percent Of The US Population? The Democratic Coalition, a liberal super PAC, said in a fundraising email that the senators who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh represent 44 percent of the U.S. population. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Morgan Freeman Say He Hates The Word Homophobia? An imageshared on Facebookclaimed that actor Morgan Freeman said, “I hate the word homophobia. It’s not a phobia. You’re not scared. You’re an a**hole.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show Fidel Castro Holding Justin Trudeau As A Baby? An imageshared on Facebookpurports to show the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro holding Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a baby. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is The Attorney General Investigating Biden Protestors? An imageshared on social mediapurportedly shows a headline reporting that Department of Justice (DOJ) Attorney General Merrick Garland announced an investigation into people that chant “f*** Biden.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Did Rick Perry Say Fossil Fuels Will Prevent Sexual Assault? Various headlines inAxios,The Hill, andCBS Newsreported that Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said that fossil fuels can help prevent sexual assault. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Nigeria Purchase WhatsApp From Facebook? An imageshared on Facebookclaims the Nigerian government purchased the messaging app WhatsApp from Facebook for 3 billion naira. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Denzel Washington Say ‘Democrat Elites’ Blackmailed Him For Liking Donald Trump? An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a Telegram message from actor Denzel Washington claiming he was blackmailed by “democrat elites” because he “respects President Trump.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

True: Is ‘Kill, Rape, Control’ An MS-13 Motto? The White House said in apress releaseMonday that the gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, follows the motto of “kill, rape, control.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Churchill Say, ‘An Optimist Sees The Opportunity In Every Difficulty’? A postshared on Facebookclaims that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill once stated, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did House Democrats Kick Nancy Pelosi Out Of Office? A videoshared on Facebookpurports House Democrats purportedly removed Speaker and California Rep. Nancy Pelosi from office. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: ‘Aside From Work, I Have A Little Joy’ – Are These The Final Words Of A Billionaire Named Steve Gouves? A postshared on Facebookclaims a billionaire named Steve Gouves said on his deathbed, “In other eyes, my life is the essence of success, but aside from work, I have a little joy, and in the end wealth is just a fact of life to which I am accustomed.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show A Neighbor Watching The FBI Raid Rudy Giuliani’s Home? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s neighbor watching the FBI raid his home. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did New Zealand’s Prime Minister Say Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Is ‘The Solution To Every Crisis The World Faces’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr., a candidate in the Philippines’ upcoming presidential election, is “the solution to every crisis the world faces.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Image Claims To Show Kamala Harris Holding A Marijuana Cigarette An imageshared on Facebookclaims to show Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holding a marijuana cigarette while speaking into a microphone. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Elon Musk Fire Twitter Employees Over Their Pronouns? A postshared on Instagrampurports new Twitter owner and CEO Elon Musk allegedly fired employees who revealed their pronouns. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Has The Legal Drinking Age In South Carolina Been Lowered To 18 Years Old? AFacebook postshared over 1,000 times claims South Carolina has lowered its statewide legal drinking age to 18 years old. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Video Show Arizona Ballots Falling Down An Escalator? A videoshared on Instagramallegedlyshows ballots from the Arizona 2022 midterms election spilling out of trash cans on an escalator. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Image Claims To Show ‘Actual Quote’ From Joe Biden An imageshared on Facebookmore than 750 times attributes a seemingly incoherent quote to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Post Claims The National Guard Is Blocking Access From Florida To Georgia Aviral Facebook postshared more than 5,800 times claims the National Guard is blocking access from Florida to Georgia. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Katy Perry Say Cannibalism Is ‘Super Healthy And Good For You’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims singer Katy Perry promoted cannibalism on French radio, saying that it’s “super healthy and good for you” and “more popular than you might think.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: No, Ben & Jerry’s Did Not Release A Marlboro Red Ice Cream Flavor An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows a new, Marlboro Red cigarette flavor of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did An Audience Member Give Biden The Finger During His Speech In Poland? An imageshared on social mediaallegedly shows a man giving President Joe Biden the finger during his speech in Poland. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Image Showing Anti-Trump Sign Is Not From 2023 An imageshared on Twitterclaims to show anti-Trump signs as former President Donald Trump visits Scotland. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Dianne Feinstein Say, ‘One Day The American People Will Know Their Place’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said, “One day the American people will know their place, and they will stop thinking they deserve the same privileges as us.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show A ‘Mega Rally’ For Donald Trump In DC? An imageshared on Facebookclaims to show a Washington, D.C. rally for President Donald Trump. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Image Falsely Attributes Racist Remarks To Michael Kors An imageshared on Facebookover 3,500 times claims fashion designer Michael Kors said, “I’m tired of pretending I like blacks.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show A Tornado In Wasco, California? An imageshared on Facebookover 350 times purportedly shows a tornado that touched down in Wasco, California, on Oct. 25. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Patrick Mahomes Leave Training Camp Over The Kansas City Chiefs’ Name? An imageshared on Facebookclaims Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes left training camp and said he would “not play another down in the NFL” unless the team changed its name. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show A Ukrainian Tank Involved In The 2003 Invasion Of Iraq? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows a Ukrainian tank participating in the 2003 invasion in Iraq. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Only 6 Million People Watch The 2020 Democratic National Convention? Aviral Facebook postshared over 10,000 times claims a total of 6 million people watched the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC). (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Image Claims To Show Guardian Article About The BBC’s George Orwell Statue Being Removed An imageshared on Facebookclaims to show an article, purportedly from The Guardian, reporting that the George Orwell statue outside the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) headquarters will be removed. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was The National Day Of Prayer Not Observed In DC For The First Time In 70 Years? A postshared on Facebookover 1,700 times claims the National Day of Prayer was not observed in Washington, D.C. for the first time in 70 years. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Drones In Kyiv Spell Out The Message ‘Russian Warship, Go F Yourself’? An imageshared on Facebookallegedly shows dozens of drones arranged to spell out the message “Russian war ship? go fck yourself” in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is Joe Biden’s CIA Responsible For Riots In Brazil? A postshared on Facebookpurports the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is responsible for riots in Brazil following the election of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Was Paul Pelosi Arrested For Possession Of Child Porn? A videoshared on Instagramclaims Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested on charges of possessing child pornography. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Is Twitter Blocking Posts That Use The Phrase ‘Illegal Alien’? Conservative author and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk claimed Thursday that Twitter is blocking posts that say “illegal alien.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Tell Republicans They Can Either ‘Accept Defeat’ Or ‘Have War’? A postshared on Facebookclaims Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told Republicans and supporters of President Donald Trump, “You can either accept defeat and have unity with us Or you can have war.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Viral Image Claims To Show Phone Number For Receiving Emergency Food Stamps An imageshared on Facebookmore than 46,000 times purportedly shows the phone number people can call to get emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Shows Flock Of Birds In Kentucky That Died After The Train Derailed In Ohio? An imageshared on social mediaallegedly shows a flock of birds that suddenly died in Kentucky following the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Photo Show The Monster Building In Hong Kong With Hundreds Of Floors? An imageshared on Facebookover 330 times purportedly shows the Monster Building in Hong Kong with hundreds of floors. (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Did George Washington Call Government ‘A Dangerous Servant And A Fearful Master’? An imageshared on Facebookclaims that President George Washington once said, “Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Does This Image Show Russian Military Vehicles Spelling Out A Crude Word In Cyrillic? A postshared on Facebookallegedly shows a satellite photo of Russian military vehicles spelling out “dick” in Cyrillic as a message to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (Source: Check Your Fact)

False: Image Claims To Show Emmanuel Macron Covered From Neck To Knee In Flower Wreaths An imageshared on Facebookpurportedly shows French President Emmanuel Macron wrapped from neck to knee in flower wreaths. (Source: Check Your Fact)

All German Fact Checks

Manipuliert: Ein Video zeige, dass die Grünen-Bundesvorsitzende Ricarda Lang den Vatertag als „abartig“ bezeichnete. Sie wolle den Feiertag zum „Menschentag“ machen. Pure Hetze ist laut einem Twitter-Nutzer das, was die Grünen-Bundesvorsitzende Ricarda Lang angeblich in einem Video sagt: Der Vatertag sei das „jährliche Fest der Schande“, sie wolle ab 2024 stattdessen den „Menschentag“ einführen. Die angebliche Aussage von Lang schickten uns a (Source: Correctiv)

Falscher Kontext: Ein Video zeige Nato-Soldaten aktuell in der Ukraine. Es sind chaotische Szenen. Menschenmassen schwärmen auf eine Flugbahn, ein Helikopter hebt ab; Staub fegt durch die Luft, während Soldaten und Militärfahrzeuge die Umgebung säumen. Spielen sich diese Szenen gerade in der Ukraine ab und handelt es sich um Nato-Soldaten? Das wird m (Source: Correctiv)

Falsch: "Wenn du im ersten Wahlgang für Erdogan gestimmt hast ist deine Stimme immer noch gültig Du musst nicht nochmal zu den Wahlen gehen" behauptet ein türkischer Social-Media-Influencer in einem Video aufTwitterundTikTok Dabei müssen alle Bürger, die sich an der Wahl beteiligen möchten, neu wählen gehen.Im Gesetz zur Präsidentschaftswahl in der Türkeisteht deutlich, dass der Kandidat mit der Mehrheit der Stimmen bei der Stichwahl gewinnt. Und auch dort ist nicht die Rede davon, dass Stimmen aus der ersten Wahlrunde bei der Stichwahl zählen würden. Auch die angeblichen Wahlsprüche sind falsch, wie ein Blick auf die Webseite des Präsidentschaftskandidaten zeigt, auf denen seine echten Plakate zu sehen sind. Von der türkischen Regierung wird die Partei als Parallelstruktur der PKK angesehen, die eine Gefahr für die nationale Sicherheit und Einheit der Türkei darstelle. Dabei sieht der echte Stichwahlzettel wie folgt aus: Auf der linken Seite ist ein Foto Erdogans sowie sein vollständiger Name zu sehen, auf der rechten Seite ein Foto Kilicdaroglus sowie sein vollständiger Name. (Source: DW - Deutsche Welle)

Fake: Der aktuell inhaftierte und ehemalige Präsidentschaftswahl-Konkurrent Erdogans Selahattin Demirtas werde freigelassen heißt es auf einem angeblichen Wahlplakat von Kilicdaroglu das der AKP-Politiker Erdem Kertisci aufTwitterverbreitet Auf einem Weiteren steht dass die YPG keine Terrororganisation sei Dabei müssen alle Bürger, die sich an der Wahl beteiligen möchten, neu wählen gehen.Im Gesetz zur Präsidentschaftswahl in der Türkeisteht deutlich, dass der Kandidat mit der Mehrheit der Stimmen bei der Stichwahl gewinnt. Und auch dort ist nicht die Rede davon, dass Stimmen aus der ersten Wahlrunde bei der Stichwahl zählen würden. Auch die angeblichen Wahlsprüche sind falsch, wie ein Blick auf die Webseite des Präsidentschaftskandidaten zeigt, auf denen seine echten Plakate zu sehen sind. Von der türkischen Regierung wird die Partei als Parallelstruktur der PKK angesehen, die eine Gefahr für die nationale Sicherheit und Einheit der Türkei darstelle. Dabei sieht der echte Stichwahlzettel wie folgt aus: Auf der linken Seite ist ein Foto Erdogans sowie sein vollständiger Name zu sehen, auf der rechten Seite ein Foto Kilicdaroglus sowie sein vollständiger Name. (Source: DW - Deutsche Welle)

Richtig: Der türkische Sender A Haber soll in seiner Sendung die kommende Stichwahl in der Türkei mit folgendem Bild von einem Wahlzettel erläutert haben Auf der einen Seite gebe es die Option Erdogan zu wählen der auch auf einem Foto gezeigt wird auf der anderen einen "anderen Kandidaten" ohne Bild schreibenNutzeraufTwitter Dabei müssen alle Bürger, die sich an der Wahl beteiligen möchten, neu wählen gehen.Im Gesetz zur Präsidentschaftswahl in der Türkeisteht deutlich, dass der Kandidat mit der Mehrheit der Stimmen bei der Stichwahl gewinnt. Und auch dort ist nicht die Rede davon, dass Stimmen aus der ersten Wahlrunde bei der Stichwahl zählen würden. Auch die angeblichen Wahlsprüche sind falsch, wie ein Blick auf die Webseite des Präsidentschaftskandidaten zeigt, auf denen seine echten Plakate zu sehen sind. Von der türkischen Regierung wird die Partei als Parallelstruktur der PKK angesehen, die eine Gefahr für die nationale Sicherheit und Einheit der Türkei darstelle. Dabei sieht der echte Stichwahlzettel wie folgt aus: Auf der linken Seite ist ein Foto Erdogans sowie sein vollständiger Name zu sehen, auf der rechten Seite ein Foto Kilicdaroglus sowie sein vollständiger Name. (Source: DW - Deutsche Welle)