A few days ago, old images of guns, armored vehicles, and military transport aircraft from different locations were circulated with the claims that Niger had received heavy equipment from Russia. The necessary logistics had arrived in Niamey and several M12-47-B-type retaliatory planes and armored vehicles to remove France. However, upon research, it was found that all the shared images were from different media outlets and are old, not from the recent political turmoil in Niger. The misinformation was shared by my users, one prominent being @DelphineSankara.
The Truth Behind the Images
Upon using the Google reverse search we found out the origins of all the images. The Airlifter [archive] image was published by French media in 2014, and the armoured vehicle [archive] image is from the live briefing of the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) held in the Sahel region. The AR-15 rifles [archive] and other weapons are on a table from the “Rod of Iron Freedom Festival” on October 12, 2019, in Greeley, Pennsylvania. Hence, all the images used in the post were found to be old and from different locations and were collected from different sources such as Instagram, Google, Getty images, etc., contrary to the claims by the user.
The Current Political Crisis in Niger
Niger is currently facing a political crisis. On July 26th, 2023, a coup d’état occurred in the Republic of Niger. The country’s presidential guard removed and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a military junta shortly after confirming the coup to be a success. The situation remains tense as international organizations and governments continue to monitor developments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it appears that anti-Russia accounts were circulating old out-of-context images claiming to be from Niger to set their propaganda during the political crisis there. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below.
Claim: Old images of guns, armoured vehicles, and military transport aircraft from different locations are being circulated with the claim that Niger has received heavy equipment from Russia.
Fact: All the images used in the post were found to be old and from different locations and were collected from different sources such as Instagram, Google, Getty images, etc., contrary to the claims by the user.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
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