211Check

211Check is an independent fact-checking and information verification platform based in South Sudan. Launched in March 2020 as a flagship project to counter the wave of COVID-19 disinformation and misinformation, it has since expanded its scope to address a wide range of false and misleading claims circulating in the country and across the African continent. The platform is managed and run by Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF), a national non-governmental organisation registered in South Sudan with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) under registration number 2285. 211Check operates at the intersection of technology, media literacy, and digital rights. Its work is structured around three main thematic areas: awareness, misinformation and disinformation, and prevention. Under awareness, the platform provides citizens with basic, accurate information through media and information literacy (MIL) initiatives. Under misinformation and disinformation, it corrects and fact-checks wrong and misleading information that could lead citizens to make harmful decisions. Under prevention, it offers clear recommendations on actions citizens can take to mitigate risks related to dis/misinformation. The platform publishes fact-checks, explainers, and reports on its website, covering topics such as political developments, security incidents, legal proceedings, and economic issues. Recent examples include fact-checks on claims about the 2018 revitalised agreement, the status of Dr. Riek Machar, and a video purportedly showing an SSPDF attack in Wau. It also produces explainers on South Sudan's debt burden and sovereign vulnerability. Users can submit claims for verification through the website, with a stated response time of within 72 hours; the platform notes that it does not check opinions or predictions. As South Sudan's first and only independent fact-checking initiative, 211Check fills a critical gap in the country's media landscape, where access to reliable information is limited and disinformation can have serious consequences. Through its work, it aims to empower communities, promote media literacy, and protect digital rights. The platform is part of DRF's broader portfolio, which also includes SafetyComm, South Sudan's first public cyber support center.

211Check was established in March 2020 as South Sudan's first and only independent fact-checking and information verification flagship project. Its initial mission was to counter the wave of COVID-19 disinformation and misinformation that was spreading rapidly during the early stages of the pandemic. At a time when reliable information about the virus was scarce and rumours could lead to harmful behaviour, 211Check provided a much-needed source of verified facts for South Sudanese citizens. Since its founding, the initiative has continued to grow in its scope of work. While it began with a focus on COVID-19, it quickly expanded to address a broader range of dis/misinformation affecting South Sudan and the wider African continent. The platform adopted a three-pronged approach: awareness, misinformation and disinformation, and prevention. This framework allows it to not only debunk false claims but also to educate citizens through media and information literacy (MIL) and to provide practical recommendations for mitigating the risks associated with dis/misinformation. 211Check is managed and run by Digital Rights Frontlines (DRF), a national non-governmental organisation registered in South Sudan with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) under registration number 2285. DRF is a pioneering organisation dedicated to protecting digital rights and promoting media literacy, cyber safety, and countering hate speech and misinformation. Under DRF's umbrella, 211Check operates alongside SafetyComm, South Sudan's first public cyber support center. This institutional backing provides 211Check with the organisational capacity and mandate to carry out its work independently. Over the years, 211Check has published numerous fact-checks and explainers on a wide range of topics, including political developments, security incidents, legal proceedings, and economic issues. Its fact-checks often address viral claims on social media, such as false reports about the death or abduction of prominent figures, or misattributed videos of violence. It also produces in-depth explainers on complex issues like South Sudan's debt burden and sovereign vulnerability. The platform accepts claim submissions from the public and aims to respond within 72 hours, while noting that it does not check opinions or predictions. As South Sudan's only independent fact-checking platform, 211Check plays a vital role in the country's information ecosystem. By providing accurate, timely, and unbiased information, it helps citizens make informed decisions and holds public figures accountable. Its work contributes to the broader goals of promoting media literacy, protecting digital rights, and building resilience against disinformation in South Sudan and beyond.

• 211Check established as South Sudan's first and only independent fact-checking and information verification flagship project, initially to counter COVID-19 dis/misinformation.

• Published fact-check debunking claim that Dr. Machar's lead defence lawyer was abducted in Juba.

• Published fact-checks on Riek Machar's status and a video falsely showing an SSPDF attack in Wau.

• Published fact-check confirming that the 2018 revitalised agreement allocates positions to its signatories.

• Published explainer on South Sudan's debt burden and sovereign vulnerability.

South Sudan's first and only independent fact-checking and information verification platform, focused on countering dis/misinformation and promoting media literacy.

• Fact-checks

  Verification of claims circulating in South Sudan, covering politics, security, legal affairs, and economics.

• Explainers

  In-depth articles providing context on complex issues such as debt and governance.

• Media and Information Literacy (MIL)

  Educational resources to help citizens identify and counter dis/misinformation.

• Claim Verification Service

  Public submission of claims for verification, with a 72-hour response target.

1. 1Home | 211CHECK211check.org
2. 2About 211 Check | 211CHECK211check.org
3. 3211Check - Wikidatawikidata.org