Viral Fake East African Currency Takes Creator by Surprise
To the casual observer, it appeared that the long-anticipated dream of a new single currency for East Africa had materialized. An account on a social media platform, denoted as “Government of East Africa” with a verified grey tick, suggesting its authenticity, posted an image of a specimen note valued at five sheafras. This new currency, named sheafra, was coined by combining “shilling” and “franc,” the currencies in current use across the region.
The posts, originally shared last Sunday, quickly gained widespread attention, surpassing a million views and going viral on major blogs and online media outlets in Kenya, where it was reported as an official currency launch. Enthusiastic discussions ensued, with some welcoming the idea and others debating aspects such as the name and design of the sheafra.
However, the truth behind the apparent news of the single currency was yet to fully emerge. The East African Community (EAC), a bloc comprising eight countries, eventually stepped in to clarify that the information was false and that no such currency had been launched.
The mastermind behind the fabricated single currency, Moses Haabwa from Uganda, expressed surprise at the extent to which the news spread and the attention it garnered. Haabwa, in his late 30s, identified himself as the overseer of the “Federal Republic of East Africa Government,” an entity that does not actually exist. His background includes claiming to work in the intelligence field and asserting that he was appointed as an ambassador for an undisclosed European dukedom—a dubious claim surrounded by mystery.
Over the past three months, Haabwa’s group had been releasing examples or “specimens” of different sheafra denominations on social media. While previous posts received little attention, the five sheafra note somehow captured the public’s imagination, leading to the false perception of an official currency launch.
Adding to the air of legitimacy, the “Government of East Africa” account had been granted a grey tick by a social media platform in January, indicating that it was the official account of a government or multilateral organization. The BBC has reached out to the platform to understand why this verification was given but has not received a response.
The excitement around the sheafra was further fueled by the longstanding discussions within the EAC about the potential introduction of a new single currency for East Africa. However, both the regional bloc and the Bank of Tanzania promptly debunked the sheafra, urging the public to disregard social media rumors about the unveiling of new banknotes for the region.
