AFP Fact Check
@factcheck.afp.com
Fact-checking by AFP News Agency.
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
Official account of the world's biggest news fact-checking network. Also on Instagram: @AFPFactCheck
Help us fight misinformation https://factcheck.afp.com/contact
A video of former Ethiopian army chief Samora Yunus giving an interview 13 years ago has been altered to give the false impression that he spoke in favour of a takeover of Eritrea's Assab port in the event of a new war u.afp.com/Sniy
u.afp.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 PM
A video of former Ethiopian army chief Samora Yunus giving an interview 13 years ago has been altered to give the false impression that he spoke in favour of a takeover of Eritrea's Assab port in the event of a new war u.afp.com/Sniy
These images of an elderly couple waiting to be rescued from muddy floodwaters were taken in Mexico, contrary to posts claiming they showed a Philippine couple after Typhoon Kalmaegi flooded swathes of the archipelago u.afp.com/MexicoFloodClip
November 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
These images of an elderly couple waiting to be rescued from muddy floodwaters were taken in Mexico, contrary to posts claiming they showed a Philippine couple after Typhoon Kalmaegi flooded swathes of the archipelago u.afp.com/MexicoFloodClip
Baseless claims about typhoid vaccines have targeted an inoculation campaign in Bangladesh, with a UNICEF health manager telling AFP online disinformation has slowed down the nationwide drive u.afp.com/TyphoidVaccineClaim
November 8, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Baseless claims about typhoid vaccines have targeted an inoculation campaign in Bangladesh, with a UNICEF health manager telling AFP online disinformation has slowed down the nationwide drive u.afp.com/TyphoidVaccineClaim
This video of firefighters putting out a blaze on a light rail transit train was generated with the help of AI, contrary to posts claiming it depicted a real fire on Malaysia’s Ampang Line u.afp.com/FalseKLTrainFire
November 8, 2025 at 7:40 AM
This video of firefighters putting out a blaze on a light rail transit train was generated with the help of AI, contrary to posts claiming it depicted a real fire on Malaysia’s Ampang Line u.afp.com/FalseKLTrainFire
Half a century after the death of Francisco Franco, disinformation on social media has credited the Spanish dictator with social achievements that present his iron-fisted rule in a nostalgic light. Read more: u.afp.com/FrancoDisinfo
November 8, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Half a century after the death of Francisco Franco, disinformation on social media has credited the Spanish dictator with social achievements that present his iron-fisted rule in a nostalgic light. Read more: u.afp.com/FrancoDisinfo
This picture of US President Donald Trump apparently making a "secret visit" to jailed South Korean ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol is altered.
There are no official reports Trump visited the detention centre during his trip to Seoul
u.afp.com/TrumpSecretVisitYoon
There are no official reports Trump visited the detention centre during his trip to Seoul
u.afp.com/TrumpSecretVisitYoon
November 7, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This picture of US President Donald Trump apparently making a "secret visit" to jailed South Korean ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol is altered.
There are no official reports Trump visited the detention centre during his trip to Seoul
u.afp.com/TrumpSecretVisitYoon
There are no official reports Trump visited the detention centre during his trip to Seoul
u.afp.com/TrumpSecretVisitYoon
Video of a person ripping down an American flag resurfaced with claims it shows a celebration for Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City mayoral election. But the clip shows an unrelated incident that took place at a pro-Palestinian protest in November 2023 u.afp.com/SeC2
November 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Video of a person ripping down an American flag resurfaced with claims it shows a celebration for Zohran Mamdani's win in the New York City mayoral election. But the clip shows an unrelated incident that took place at a pro-Palestinian protest in November 2023 u.afp.com/SeC2
November 6, 2025 at 4:51 PM
An image of a woman clashing with police is being shared with claims that it shows a Mozambican hair salon owner being arrested in Johannesburg. However, the image was taken six years ago in Cape Town during a sit-in by refugees u.afp.com/Se9A
November 6, 2025 at 3:04 PM
An image of a woman clashing with police is being shared with claims that it shows a Mozambican hair salon owner being arrested in Johannesburg. However, the image was taken six years ago in Cape Town during a sit-in by refugees u.afp.com/Se9A
This video does not show an Afghan missile test in October 2025 -- it was in fact filmed months ago when India and Pakistan fought in a four-day clash u.afp.com/NotAfghanMis...
u.afp.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
This video does not show an Afghan missile test in October 2025 -- it was in fact filmed months ago when India and Pakistan fought in a four-day clash u.afp.com/NotAfghanMis...
Both Pima County, Arizona and an independent elections expert told us this clip shows a bipartisan team of employees following standard protocols to retrieve ballots and securely transport them for counting. Fraud clames are unfounded. Read more: u.afp.com/PimaCountyAZ
November 6, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Both Pima County, Arizona and an independent elections expert told us this clip shows a bipartisan team of employees following standard protocols to retrieve ballots and securely transport them for counting. Fraud clames are unfounded. Read more: u.afp.com/PimaCountyAZ
This footage traces to Quebec during Canada's elections in April 2025. It is unrelated to November elections in the United States. Read more: u.afp.com/MontrealNotUS
November 5, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This footage traces to Quebec during Canada's elections in April 2025. It is unrelated to November elections in the United States. Read more: u.afp.com/MontrealNotUS
Weeks after Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa's ambassador to France, fell 22 floors to his death in Paris, Facebook pages based in Southeast Asia bombarded social media with wild conspiracies and false claims about the diplomat 👉 u.afp.com/SeEB
November 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Weeks after Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa's ambassador to France, fell 22 floors to his death in Paris, Facebook pages based in Southeast Asia bombarded social media with wild conspiracies and false claims about the diplomat 👉 u.afp.com/SeEB
Elon Musk claimed ballots in New York City were deceptively formatted to boost Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's chances. But Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two political parties. Read more: u.afp.com/FusionVoting
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Elon Musk claimed ballots in New York City were deceptively formatted to boost Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's chances. But Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa were both listed twice because each was endorsed by two political parties. Read more: u.afp.com/FusionVoting
Social media users are claiming a video shows a New York City man saying he would cast six illegal votes for Zohran Mamdani. But the video causing alarm originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme. Polling sites have safeguards to prevent fraud. u.afp.com/NYC67
u.afp.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Social media users are claiming a video shows a New York City man saying he would cast six illegal votes for Zohran Mamdani. But the video causing alarm originated as a joke playing on the popular "6-7" meme. Polling sites have safeguards to prevent fraud. u.afp.com/NYC67
The Chinese flag was not raised in front of a Seoul govt building to mark the APEC summit, contrary to claims Lee Jae Myung's administration had done so to sideline its allies the US and Japan.
It was in fact hoisted according to protocol to mark Xi Jinping's state visit
u.afp.com/NotAPECChinaFlag
It was in fact hoisted according to protocol to mark Xi Jinping's state visit
u.afp.com/NotAPECChinaFlag
u.afp.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The Chinese flag was not raised in front of a Seoul govt building to mark the APEC summit, contrary to claims Lee Jae Myung's administration had done so to sideline its allies the US and Japan.
It was in fact hoisted according to protocol to mark Xi Jinping's state visit
u.afp.com/NotAPECChinaFlag
It was in fact hoisted according to protocol to mark Xi Jinping's state visit
u.afp.com/NotAPECChinaFlag
🇹🇿 Tanzania's late October polls were held amid a nationwide internet blackout, during which social media users in neighboring countries shared images purportedly showing protests. While there was indeed unrest, some of these images were unrelated.
Read more: u.afp.com/TZpoll
Read more: u.afp.com/TZpoll
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
🇹🇿 Tanzania's late October polls were held amid a nationwide internet blackout, during which social media users in neighboring countries shared images purportedly showing protests. While there was indeed unrest, some of these images were unrelated.
Read more: u.afp.com/TZpoll
Read more: u.afp.com/TZpoll
Contrary to social media posts that shared this purported government order, Malaysia has not announced it will ban smartphone usage for students under 16 from January 1. This document circulating online is a fabrication u.afp.com/FalsePhoneBan
November 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Contrary to social media posts that shared this purported government order, Malaysia has not announced it will ban smartphone usage for students under 16 from January 1. This document circulating online is a fabrication u.afp.com/FalsePhoneBan
Walmart says it will be open on November 1, dismissing social media rumors it planned to close to in-person shoppers in the United States as federal food assistance is halted for millions of Americans. Read more: u.afp.com/WalmartNov1
October 31, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Walmart says it will be open on November 1, dismissing social media rumors it planned to close to in-person shoppers in the United States as federal food assistance is halted for millions of Americans. Read more: u.afp.com/WalmartNov1
🌀 Hurricane Melissa smashed into Jamaica with enormous force, causing flooding and infrastructure damage.
⚠️ But we found clips from storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States shared out of context. Read more: u.afp.com/SeMb
⚠️ But we found clips from storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States shared out of context. Read more: u.afp.com/SeMb
October 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
🌀 Hurricane Melissa smashed into Jamaica with enormous force, causing flooding and infrastructure damage.
⚠️ But we found clips from storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States shared out of context. Read more: u.afp.com/SeMb
⚠️ But we found clips from storms in Italy, Mexico and the United States shared out of context. Read more: u.afp.com/SeMb
🪖 Nigeria's security woes, especially in the northern part of the country, are well documented, but a video purportedly showing ISWAP militants parading newly seized armoured vehicles in Kogi state was taken in 2024 in Burkina Faso following an attack by extremists
u.afp.com/SeMv
u.afp.com/SeMv
October 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
🪖 Nigeria's security woes, especially in the northern part of the country, are well documented, but a video purportedly showing ISWAP militants parading newly seized armoured vehicles in Kogi state was taken in 2024 in Burkina Faso following an attack by extremists
u.afp.com/SeMv
u.afp.com/SeMv
📺 A video of Kenyan political leader Raila Odinga talking about death and the afterlife has been circulated with claims that it shows his last televised public address before he died in India on October 15, 2025. However, the video was filmed in 2023 u.afp.com/SexW
October 30, 2025 at 12:59 PM
📺 A video of Kenyan political leader Raila Odinga talking about death and the afterlife has been circulated with claims that it shows his last televised public address before he died in India on October 15, 2025. However, the video was filmed in 2023 u.afp.com/SexW
There have been no reports of a Philippine senator probing a ballooning corruption scandal being the victim of an ambush, contrary to claims circulating online. A photo shared with the false claim in fact shows a military vehicle ambushed in November 2024 u.afp.com/FabricatedAmbush
October 30, 2025 at 7:41 AM
There have been no reports of a Philippine senator probing a ballooning corruption scandal being the victim of an ambush, contrary to claims circulating online. A photo shared with the false claim in fact shows a military vehicle ambushed in November 2024 u.afp.com/FabricatedAmbush
🌀 Some meteorologists described Hurricane Melissa’s strength and slow crawl as "unreal" before it slammed into Jamaica on Oct 28, 2025, fueling baseless conspiracy theories about a geo-engineered storm.
u.afp.com/HurricaneMel...
u.afp.com/HurricaneMel...
October 29, 2025 at 9:38 PM
🌀 Some meteorologists described Hurricane Melissa’s strength and slow crawl as "unreal" before it slammed into Jamaica on Oct 28, 2025, fueling baseless conspiracy theories about a geo-engineered storm.
u.afp.com/HurricaneMel...
u.afp.com/HurricaneMel...
Far-right German-language rappers are flouting hate speech rules by spreading extremist rhetoric and disinformation on platforms such as TikTok, an AFP investigation found.
Read more: u.afp.com/GermanRappers
Read more: u.afp.com/GermanRappers
October 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Far-right German-language rappers are flouting hate speech rules by spreading extremist rhetoric and disinformation on platforms such as TikTok, an AFP investigation found.
Read more: u.afp.com/GermanRappers
Read more: u.afp.com/GermanRappers