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Claim: A viral post says Sierra Leone currently has an electric public transportation train system operating in the country.
Verdict: False. Findings by DUBAWA show that the image circulating online was AI-generated and does not represent a real transport system in the country.
Full Text
A Facebook user, Samson Barrie, shared an image of a modern electric train with the inscription “Sierra Leone Electric Transport Trains.” The image also displayed signs reading Freetown Central Station and Powered by Clean Energy for a Better Sierra Leone.
The post attracted hundreds of reactions, comments, and shares from Sierra Leoneans who believed the country had introduced a modern railway transport system.
Because transportation and infrastructure are matters of public interest and can be misleading, DUBAWA decided to verify the authenticity of the claim and the image used in the post.
Verification
DUBAWA’s researcher conducted checks and found no official announcement from the Government of Sierra Leone or the Ministry of Transport and Aviation about the launch of electric train services in the country.
Further investigation into Sierra Leone’s railway history shows that the country no longer operates a nationwide public railway transport system. Sierra Leone’s railway network, which was mainly used during the colonial era, gradually stopped operating many decades ago. Historical records show that the last major public railway operations in Sierra Leone ended around 1975.
DUBAWA also analysed the viral image using AI image detection tools. The result showed a very high probability that the image was artificially generated. One AI detection result indicated a 97% likelihood that the image was created using Artificial Intelligence.
Additionally, close observation of the image reveals several signs commonly associated with AI-generated pictures. These include unusually smooth train surfaces, unrealistic lighting effects, overly perfect designs, and text formatting inconsistencies around the station signs and train bodies.
No credible local or international news organisation has reported the launch of electric train transportation in Sierra Leone. If such a major national infrastructure project existed, it would likely have received widespread media coverage and official government communication.
Conclusion
The claim that Sierra Leone currently operates electric public transportation trains is misleading. Findings by DUBAWA show that the image circulating online was AI-generated and does not represent a real transport system in the country. Sierra Leone has not operated a comprehensive public railway transport network since around 1975.
