On November 26, 2023, the CDD War Room received a claim that there was heavy gunfire near Sierra Leone’s military barracks. Alongside the claim, a press statement was circulated indicating a security update from the Sierra Leone Government and the announcement of a curfew. Claim: Heavy gunfire erupts near Sierra Leone’s military barracks ALL WE KNOW...
Category: West Africa
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FACT CHECK: Did a Russian Aircraft Carrying Wagner fighters land in Niamey, Niger?
A Nigerian blog in a news report claimed that a Russian aircraft carrying Wagner fighters had landed in Niger. The report was published as breaking news with the tag, “A Russian aircraft carrying hundreds of Wagner fighters has landed in Niamey, the capital of Niger.” CDD War Room ran a check to verify the authenticity...
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FACT CHECK: Tchiani flees presidential palace amidst protest over unpaid salaries?
A report circulating online has claimed that Abdourahmane Tchiani, the military junta leader in Niger, has fled the presidential palace in Niamey, the nation’s capital. The report, as can be seen here, here, here, and here, alleged that Tchiani’s departure from the palace coincided with protests by fellow members of the presidential guard over unpaid...
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FACT-CHECK: Has Niger’s ousted president Bazoum been released from captivity?
This is coming after the Authorities of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission held the first extraordinary summit in Abuja following the Niger coup announced on July 26, 2023.
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FACT-CHECK: Does viral video show Nigerian embassy being ransacked by protesters?
A video circulating on WhatsApp purportedly shows the Nigerian embassy in Niger Republic being set ablaze by a crowd of protesters. This is coming on the heels of the recent political situation in Niger, following the July 26 coup, which led to the suspension of the Nigerien constitution and removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from...
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FACT CHECK: Does video show residents of Burkina Faso rallying in support of Niger, Russia?
Last week, a social media influencer, Jackson Hinkle shared a video with the accompanying caption, “residents of Burkina Faso rally in support of Niger & Russia”. The video captures scenes of jubilant residents celebrating as a military convoy moves through. Notably, the footage also depicts interactions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the interim President...
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FACT CHECK: Niger’s finance minister breaks down in tears over order to account for stolen funds?
A video, purportedly showing Niger Republic’s finance minister, Ahmat Jidoud, crying over an order from a military junta to account for stolen funds within 48 hours, has been widely circulated online. The video went viral on Saturday, July 29, 2023, spreading across various social media platforms and gaining significant attention from multiple news outlets, such...
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FACT CHECK: How accurate were Tinubu’s claims at NESG presidential dialogue?
Claim I: “I never worked for the government before, I only guide the government. I was the governor of Lagos state and that was my first public life.” Context: Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Peoples Congress (APC), claimed in an interactive session with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) that he had...
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FACT CHECK: Did INEC chairman say fuel queues are putting elections at risk?
Multiple social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter claim that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said fuel scarcity is putting the election at risk. The posts suggest that Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, said this at a meeting with the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)....