Disinformation on penis-shrinking illness in DRC leads to violence and deaths
via Business News3 min read
A rumor originating in isolated villages in the Tshopo province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, claiming a mysterious illness caused the "atrophy" or "disappearance" of male genitalia, escalated into a security and health crisis. Social media posts, WhatsApp voice notes, viral videos, and local testimonies fueled the panic. This occurred in a context of strong distrust towards health authorities, following Ebola epidemics and vaccination campaigns. In October, four health agents conducting vaccination research were attacked and killed by an angry mob who accused them of being responsible for the alleged illness. Local authorities struggled to contain the rumor, which was amplified on digital platforms. The Africa Infodemic Response Alliance AIRA, coordinated by the World Health Organization, reported at least 17 deaths linked to this rumor in various regions of Congo. Reuters' investigation revealed that some local churches and religious preachers contributed to spreading these narratives, sometimes during public sermons. Researchers specializing in disinformation explain that such rumors thrive in contexts of poverty, insecurity, and limited access to reliable scientific information. Social media accelerates their spread, turning emotional videos or unverified testimonies into widely shared content. Public health experts warn that this type of disinformation undermines medical and vaccination campaigns, potentially complicating efforts to prevent real diseases like chol
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
Tunisian authorities have launched a major investigation into several companies operating the country's salt pans, focusing on an alleged export under-invoicing mechanism. This scheme is suspected of transferring profits abroad, thereby reducing Tunisia's tax revenues and foreign currency earnings. Since early 2026, the Research and Anti-Tax Evasion Brigade, known as the "tax police," has been conducting checks on salt sector operators. According to a Ministry of Finance source cited by TAP news agency, fourteen companies exploiting salt pans are involved in the inquiry. Most of these companies are wholly or partly owned by foreign capital. The investigations cover over twenty production sites across various regions, including Sfax, Gab猫s, Monastir, Mahdia, Sousse, and Zarzis. Investigators are working to determine if an export under-invoicing system exists, where companies allegedly sold salt extracted in Tunisia to foreign subsidiaries or related companies at below-market prices. The product would then have been resold on international markets at significantly higher prices, allowing a substantial portion of profits to be transferred out of Tunisia while artificially reducing locally declared earnings. Preliminary estimates suggest these practices could have cost the Tunisian state hundreds of millions of euros annually in tax revenues and foreign currency income. The investigations now include all accounting, commercial, and logistical documents of the companies. Control s
Tunisia has been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the first round following a 0-4 defeat to Japan and a 1-5 loss against Sweden. Coach Herv茅 Renard, who took over after Sabri Lamouchi's dismissal, accepted full responsibility for the results, stating his role was to make the team competitive. He noted that the team started well against Japan but could not maintain their level against a quality opponent. Captain Elyes Skhiri delivered a harsh assessment, suggesting Tunisian football needs deep introspection and reforms in governance, youth training, and grassroots development, concluding that the national team is not at the level to participate in a World Cup. Defender Ali Abdi apologized to fans for the catastrophic campaign, highlighting unfavorable preparation conditions. He pointed to numerous changes made just weeks before the tournament, including replacing experienced players with younger ones, which prevented the team from developing necessary cohesion. Abdi emphasized that most qualified teams prepare for years, while Tunisia had to rebuild its squad urgently. The statements from Renard, Skhiri, and Abdi collectively point to a lack of preparation, instability, and structural dysfunctions beyond the field, potentially reigniting debate on Tunisian football governance and the reforms needed for the Carthage Eagles to regain international competitiveness.
Tunisia has been officially eliminated from the 2026 World Cup after a 4-0 defeat to Japan, following an earlier 5-1 loss to Sweden. This marks Tunisia as the first Arab team to be eliminated from the tournament. Daichi Kamada opened the scoring for Japan in the 4th minute, a goal contested by the Tunisians. Japan, described as superior and better organized, extended their lead with Ayase Ueda scoring a brace and providing an assist. The match also marked the 1000th game in the competition's history. Herv茅 Renard was appointed as the national team coach after the initial defeat against Sweden, replacing Sabri Lamouchi, whose tenure included one win, one draw, and three consecutive losses in five matches. Renard's mission was to revitalize the team, which was at the bottom of Group F. Japan, having previously drawn 2-2 with the Netherlands, is now close to qualifying for the round of 16 and will compete for the top spot in their group in the final match. Tunisia has one remaining match without stakes.