Image of Assimi Goïta asleep at summit was doctored
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Studio Tamani
An image presenting Malian President Assimi Goïta as asleep at the Russia-Africa summit was digitally altered. The original photograph, published by Mali’s presidency, shows him with his eyes open at the forum’s opening in Moscow on 28 October, according to Studio Tamani.
A photograph showing Mali’s Transitional President, General Assimi Goïta, supposedly asleep at the opening of the Russia-Africa Forum in Moscow has been manipulated, according to a fact-check by Studio Tamani. The image circulated on social media was edited to add closed eyelids, smooth parts of the face and place the letters “Zzz” above his head.
The original photograph, published on the official Facebook page of Mali’s presidency, was taken during the opening of the forum on 28 October. It shows Assimi Goïta sitting upright with his eyes open, and wearing an earpiece with a different wire from the one visible in the falsified image. Studio Tamani found the photograph through a reverse search using Google Lens.
The fact-check comes as Mali’s head of state was taking part in the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, where he notably defended sovereign partnerships on 29 October.
