As coronavirus cases spread through African countries, misleading information continues to be shared on social media and online.
Here are some of the stories that have been widely shared recently.
1. The ‘plot’ to stop Africa developing its own cures
We start with a baseless conspiracy revolving around Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, and the unproven herbal tonic, Covid-Organics, which he’s promoting to treat coronavirus.
Social media posts have been circulating that claim he’s being offered large amounts of money by the World Health Organization (WHO) to secretly poison the drink.
The baseless theory suggests that the WHO wants to prove that African countries can’t be self-reliant and find their own cure for Covid-19.
It appears to have first appeared in a French-language post on a Facebook account that was operating from Angola and DR Congo on 23 April.
2. Tanzania’s health minister didn’t test positive
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3. South Sudan’s bogus badges against the virus
4. President Magufuli didn’t ban wearing masks in public
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Read more at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52819674