Breaking News
Analyzing the Phantom Coup in Cameroon?
It came fast. It came loud. And it came dressed as breaking news.
“Military coup in Cameroon! Paul Biya removed from power after 41 years!”
The video, shared on TikTok by a user named Jimmoexpress37, opened with dramatic music and flashing red text:
“BREAKING: JUBILATION ACROSS CAMEROON”
“MILITARY TAKES OVER POWER”
“PAUL BIYA NO WHERE TO BE FOUND”
It claimed the coup happened around 5 a.m. The narrator spoke with urgency, describing a bloodless takeover triggered by public frustration over Biya’s long rule.
Soon after, the same video was clipped, shortened to 5 minutes, and pushed across WhatsApp groups in Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone Africa. The mood? Celebration. Many believed a new chapter had opened in Cameroon.
But something didn’t add up.
There was no mention of the supposed coup on BBC, Al Jazeera, or Reuters—not even on Cameroon’s national broadcaster. For a coup in one of Central Africa’s most tightly controlled countries, this silence was deafening.
So fact checkers started digging.
The earliest version of the video traced back to June 8, 2025, posted by a little-known YouTube channel called Jeunesse Panafricaine, with just 2,700 subscribers. The video seemed real—until you listened carefully.
The narrator’s voice didn’t quite match the visuals. Experts pointed out it carried signs of AI manipulation—that slightly off rhythm, that synthetic clarity that’s too perfect for amateur recording.
Then came the smoking gun: President Paul Biya’s verified Facebook account was still active. Just hours after the video’s circulation, Biya posted a message urging unity:
“Let us not oppose our differences but confront our ideas… Let’s consider our ethnic or cultural differences as enriching factors.”
He was clearly alive, well, and still president!
More checks showed there was no troop movement in Yaoundé, no military declaration, no international diplomatic response—nothing you would expect if a 41-year ruler had been overthrown.
And history supports that. The last coup attempt in Cameroon was in 1984—and it failed. Biya, now in his 90s, has survived more than four decades of political storms. But there has been no successful or confirmed coup attempt since then.
So, what was the video?
Likely, it was AI-enhanced disinformation, the kind used to test reactions, spark unrest, or push particular narratives. With AI, it’s now easier than ever to create the illusion of news without ever stepping into a newsroom.
And that’s the real danger.
False stories about coups can destabilize countries, trigger panic, or even justify preemptive crackdowns. In fragile political climates, lies about power changes can be as damaging as the real thing.
Conclusion: Paul Biya was not overthrown. There was no military coup.
What there was—was a very real attempt to manipulate perception.
Across Africa and beyond, videos, reels, and tweets are shaping opinions, not always with truth.
From fake bans to fictional buildings, from manufactured coups to fabricated scandals—misinformation thrives when facts are not checked.
At WABMA Debunker, we don’t take posts at face value. We follow the facts. And we don’t just question what’s said—we question who benefits when it’s believed.
#fakenews #fakenews #debunkit #debunkit #fakenews
African News
✴️ Ep.116– Does Viral Video Show a Market Between Congo and Gabon Where Parents Sell Their Children?
A viral video claims to show a “child market” between Congo and Gabon where parents allegedly sell their children. But is this true?
In this episode of WABMA Fake News Debunker (Ep. 116), we carefully examine the footage, verify available evidence, and separate fact from fiction.
🔍 What we investigated:
- The viral video and its visual details
- Reports from credible international media
- Data from global child-protection organizations
- Any evidence of a “child market” in the Congo–Gabon region
❌ Our Verdict: FALSE
There is no verified evidence that such a market exists. The viral video does not prove child trafficking and has been shared without proper context.
⚠️ Why this matters:
Misinformation like this spreads fear, reinforces harmful stereotypes, and distracts from real child protection issues.
🎓 Learn Media & Fact-Checking Skills with WABMA
Become a skilled media professional in just 5 weeks.
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A troubling image circulating online shows American YouTube star IShowSpeed wearing a Nigerian jersey. His face appears bruised. The caption is alarming. It claims he was attacked by road gang members in Nigeria while livestreaming along Ikoyi Road, Lagos.
It suggests that visiting Nigeria was unsafe. It paints a picture of chaos.
The post originates from an X account, @iamMrMarfo1. From there, it spreads.
But what really happened?
First, let’s examine the context.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., was recently in Lagos. He celebrated his 21st birthday. He surpassed 50 million YouTube subscribers. On December 29, 2025, he launched a 20 country African tour in 28 days. On January 21, he livestreamed from Balogun Market in Lagos Island. Crowds gathered. Security escorted him. The scene was intense but public.
Soon after, posts claimed he had been attacked.
The circulating images appeared to show facial injuries.
WHAT WE CHECKED
We examined the footage. According to reporting by Agence France Presse, the images were doctored. AFP traced the visuals back to specific timestamps in the original livestream. Moments at approximately 4:21:32 and 4:21:36 were manipulated to create the bruised effect.
AFP journalists who were physically present in Lagos during his visit reported that they did not witness any attack. They also heard nothing to suggest that an assault occurred. The altered images did not only appear in English. They spread in French, Arabic, Spanish, Hausa, and Zulu.
WHAT WE FOUND
It is important to note that IShowSpeed has faced disruptions during other international visits.
In Algeria, he was struck by thrown water bottles during a football match. In Norway in 2024, he experienced an incident outside a shop.
But those are separate events.
There is no credible evidence that he was attacked in Nigeria. No verified report. No confirmed injury. No authenticated footage. The viral image was manipulated.
Verdict: False.
When dramatic images circulate, especially those that inflame fear or damage reputations, verify before sharing.
Screenshots can be altered.
Livestreams can be edited.
Context matters.
This claim does not hold.
📰 Ep.117–WABMA Fake News Debunker;
Did U.S. Troops Arrive in Nigeria in February 2026? Here’s the Truth Behind the Viral Video
