A satirical story that Eritrean men have been ordered to marry at least two wives, which has been shared across Africa, has upset Eritrean officials.
“Even a madman in [the Eritrean capital] Asmara would know that this story was not true,” an Eritrean official told the BBC.
The hoax was first published online on a Kenyan news site called Crazy Monday by George Orido.
Some men have commented on Twitter that they are ready to travel to Eritrea to find a new wife.
Crazy Monday, which is published by the Standard newspaper, is well known for its focus on scandalous stories and gossip as part of an attempt to attract a younger readership, says Mathias Muindi from the BBC’s media monitoring service.
But this has not stopped it being reported in many countries from Nigeria to South Africa, from news publications such as News 24, IOL , SowetanOnline, even Vanguard which is one of Nigeria’s prominent Newspaper with some suggesting that it was true.
Helen Meles while speaking to Townpress Journalist says ” It is a huge backlash at News Agencies that follow trend online and do not validate the authenticity of stories before publisihing. She also adds ” this makes us all question the sources of stories on this media platforms in their greedy bid to garner for traffic online”
The story said that to make up for the shortage of men in the country, following the civil war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000, every man must marry at least two women or face imprisonment.
It has been trending on Twitter in Nigeria, and other countries, for several days with people sharing links to the Eritrea’s visa application documents.
‘Dark Forces’
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel tweeted
Media frenzy to parrot this ludicrous, fabricated & trite story of the Mufti’s presumed religious decree on mandatory polygamy is appalling
— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) January 27, 2016
Nigerian news website, Sahara Reporters, has retracted the story acknowledging that it was false.
In another tweet Mr Yemane said
The story illustrates vileness of z dark forces of disinformation & proclivity of others to readily embrace z negative narrative on Eritrea
— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) January 27, 2016
The New York-based group Human Rights Watch says that there is a “dismal human rights situation” in Eritrea and the restrictions there, including on the freedom of expression, have led some to call it the North Korea of Africa.
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