Akec debunks ‘fake news’ that he has been arrested

JUBA – The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Professor John Akec, has debunked claims circulating on social media that he has been arrested by South Sudan National Security Service (NSS) over his staunch opposition to government plans to dredge Nam River and resume construction of Jonglei Canal.

On Friday evening, fake news circulated on social media claiming that “the Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba Prof. John Akec has been arrested this evening shortly after public consultative forum at the University of Juba over the dredging of [Nam] River.”

But in an immediate statement to debunk the claims, Akec urged the public to disregard the fake news circulating on social media and further thanked the hundreds of citizens who turned out to a public consultation forum he organized at the Juba University today.

“Kindly disregard fake news circulating on social media.  I am not arrested,” Akec wrote on his social media Facebook page.

“Thanks to the 1,200 patriotic citizens who turned out for significant event in the fight to Save the Sudd Wetland today at Senate and Samani Halls,” he added.

‘TOOLS FOR FUELING VIOLENCE’

Separately, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani warned the public against the use of misinformation and disinformation around public debates saying the practices are tools that fuel violence.

“CEPO is urging people to avoid use of misinformation and disinformation around the public debate on river dredging and Jonglei Canal project,” he told Sudans Post in an email following the false claims of Prof. Akec’s arrest.

“Misinformation and disinformation are tools for fueling violence. It is a crime to embrace misinformation and disinformation,” he added.