A recent TikTok post showed a video purporting to be a coup d'état in Niger on August 29, 2026. The video, which has been viewed by many, shows soldiers in military attire on a podium addressing a crowd. One of the soldiers stated that the action they took was in the best interest of the nation and that they would not disappoint the people. However, a thorough investigation by PesaCheck found that the video was actually from 2010.
Upon further investigation, PesaCheck conducted a reverse image search using Yandex, which led to a France 24 article published on February 20, 2010. The article reported that the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) had ousted President Mamadou Tandja after clashes around the presidential palace. A video from the AFP, dated February 21, 2010, shows Salou Djibo, the head of the CSRD, addressing the crowd, similar to the footage in the TikTok post.
A Google search using the keywords "coup d'état in Niger" did not yield any evidence of a recent coup in the country. However, it was reported that the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, experienced a failed coup attempt on August 28-29, 2026. Despite this, the video in question was not related to the recent event.
PesaCheck's investigation concluded that the TikTok post was an example of missing context. The fact-checking organization is part of a continuous effort to verify information on social media platforms, including Facebook, to help the public distinguish between fact and fiction. PesaCheck partners with Facebook and other social media platforms to achieve this goal.
The fact-checking process was conducted by Françoise Dembélé, and the article was edited by Josaphat Finogbé, an editor at PesaCheck. The article was approved for publication by Doreen Wainainah, the editor-in-chief at PesaCheck. PesaCheck is an initiative aimed at verifying public financial information in Africa, co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein.
PesaCheck is incubated by Code for Africa, the largest civic technology and data journalism accelerator on the continent. The organization focuses on verifying information related to public finances and service delivery, particularly in areas such as healthcare, rural development, and access to water and sanitation.
The goal of PesaCheck is to help the public separate fact from fiction in public statements about financial figures that shape the world. By testing the accuracy of media reports, PesaCheck aims to promote accountability and transparency in governance. The organization has partnered with local African media outlets and civic organizations to achieve its objectives.
Key points
- The viral video was from a 2010 coup d'état in Niger, not from 2026.
- PesaCheck found that the video was related to Salou Djibo's coup against President Mamadou Tandja in 2010.
- The investigation was part of PesaCheck's effort to verify information on social media platforms and promote fact-based reporting.
