Fake news circulating on social media
alleging the assassination of Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow has
increased tension in the country facing uncertainty after refusal of outgoing
president to step down.
The news linked to a fake news website and
carried widely by blogs in Nigeria among others on Wednesday evening was widely
shared on social media raising suspicions especially after news broke that
Gambia’s army chief had pledged support for President Yahya Jammeh.
It took efforts from some members of Barrow’s team and journalists to
denounce the fake news which had circulated widely.
“Mr Barrow and the entire members of the coalition are all here and going
about their business. Gambians should ignore this rumours and continue with
their preparations to inaugurate their president on January 19,” Gambian local
media JollofNews quotes an unnamed member of the opposition.
Gambian journalist Fatu Camara also tweeted saying: “News circulating that
President Elect Barrow is killed is fake. Barrow is well and safe, he finished
a meeting a while ago”.
She however said there were reports
that members of the coalition party were evacuating to safe houses due to
threats by the authorities.
Adama Barrow is the third important personality to have been reported dead
by a fake news website in three months after Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote
and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
The
Nigerian entrepreneur in September last year announced on social media that he
was alive, while the South Sudanese leader drove around the capital Juba to
prove to the public that he is alive.
Africanews
AEP
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