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| - FACT CHECK: Viral Video Purporting To Show Niger’s Minister Of Finance Crying Is Misleading
A video shared on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, purports to show Niger’s Minister of Finance Ahmat Jidoud crying after being told he has 48 hours to explain the country’s missing finances and stolen money or face execution by firing squad.
The Niger minister of finance has been given 48hrs by the military, after a coup overthrow, to explain the country’s missing finances, the country’s finances and stolen money or face execution by firing squad. pic.twitter.com/TK5THb7anH
— African Hub (@AfricanHub_) July 29, 2023
Verdict: Misleading
The man in the video is Marou Amadou, Niger’s former Minister of Justice, according to Misbar. The original video featuring Amadou was published on Facebook in December 2021, making it predate the recent coup in Niger.
Fact Check:
Niger has reopened its borders with neighbors Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, and Chad following a recent coup, according to Al Jazeera. Soldiers staged a coup and detained President Mohamed Bazoum in late July, The Associated Press reported.
“The Niger minister of finance has been given 48hrs by the military, after a coup overthrow, to explain the country’s missing finances, the country’s finances and stolen money or face execution by firing squad,” the X video’s caption purports. The video has been viewed over four million times as of writing.
The claim is misleading, however. The man in the video is Amadou, Niger’s former Minister of Justice, according to Misbar. Amadou was appointed to the role in April 2011 and served until April 2021, the outlet reported. In December 2021, he became Niger’s ambassador to Ethiopia.
In addition, the original video featuring Amadou was published on Facebook in December 2021, making it predate the recent coup in Niger. A translation of the video’s caption indicates Amadou was crying after learning he’d been appointed as Niger’s ambassador to Ethiopia.
Furthermore, a keyword search that generates a photo of Jidoud and his biography on the website “World Bank Live” reveals his physical appearance differs from that of Amadou’s, as Jidoud has a noticeably lighter complexion. Thus, it is impossible for Jidoud to be the person shown in the X video.
Finally, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports supporting the claim. (RELATED: Image Claims To Show Nigerian Bridge)
Check Your Fact has contacted Bazoum’s office for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
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