An article on the blog Jamyco claims 21 African countries have declared support for the independence of Biafra, a disputed territory in southeast Nigeria.
The headline reads: “Breaking: 21 Africa Countries declared support for Biafra republic”. The article was published on 17 September 2019.
Several Facebook pages and groups have shared the story. They include APC Worldwide Platform, a page of supporters of Nigeria’s ruling political party, from which it has been shared 80 times.
Jamyco’s two-paragraph report lists the 21 countries as Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Mali, Angola, Rwanda, Libya, Namibia, Somalia, Guinea, Botswana, and Malawi.
Africa Check has previously debunked a number of Biafra-related reports published by Jamyco.
The article includes a photo of 19 African presidents with flags and African Union logos behind them. The historical flag of Biafra has been added to the top of the image. The flag doesn’t appear in the original photo.
The presidents shown include Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin. Both have left office: Zuma in 2018 and Boni Yayi in 2016.
A Google reverse image search shows the photo has been published online a number of times, including as far back as in 2012.
There are no credible news reports from September 2019 saying 21 African countries declared support for a republic of Biafra. – Allwell Okpi
The headline reads: “Breaking: 21 Africa Countries declared support for Biafra republic”. The article was published on 17 September 2019.
Several Facebook pages and groups have shared the story. They include APC Worldwide Platform, a page of supporters of Nigeria’s ruling political party, from which it has been shared 80 times.
Jamyco’s two-paragraph report lists the 21 countries as Kenya, Ghana, Morocco, South Africa, Algeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Mali, Angola, Rwanda, Libya, Namibia, Somalia, Guinea, Botswana, and Malawi.
Africa Check has previously debunked a number of Biafra-related reports published by Jamyco.
Old, manipulated photo
The article includes a photo of 19 African presidents with flags and African Union logos behind them. The historical flag of Biafra has been added to the top of the image. The flag doesn’t appear in the original photo.
The presidents shown include Jacob Zuma of South Africa and Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin. Both have left office: Zuma in 2018 and Boni Yayi in 2016.
A Google reverse image search shows the photo has been published online a number of times, including as far back as in 2012.
There are no credible news reports from September 2019 saying 21 African countries declared support for a republic of Biafra. – Allwell Okpi
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