The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to one of Africa's most significant forest patrimonies, playing a crucial role in preserving biodiversity, regulating the climate, and providing livelihoods for many communities. In the eastern part of the country, particularly in South Kivu, forest areas face various environmental pressures and security-related consequences. Recently, images of forest fires have been shared on social media, claiming they show Mushinga forests in Walungu territory, South Kivu, being threatened by actions attributed to the Rwandan army and M23 rebels.
The images, shared by Anaelmarlon Luz - Général 4 on September 9, show forest fires and have been viewed over 6,000 times, with many reactions and shares. The post claims that rebels are cutting down trees and setting fires to prevent ambushes by Wazalendo resistance fighters. However, an investigation by Eleza Fact found that these images do not show the Mushinga forests. Instead, they depict forest fires in the Amazon basin, primarily in Brazil.
Eleza Fact conducted a reverse image search on the four photos to determine their origin and verify if they were taken in Mushinga. The search results revealed that the images have been circulating online for several years, long before their recent publication on social media. The images are associated with forest fires and deforestation in the Amazon basin, particularly in Brazil.
The first image was found in an article published by The Standard on November 19, 2021, discussing deforestation in Brazil's Amazon, which had increased by 22% to hit a 15-year high. The image, credited to AFP via Getty Images, was taken in August 2020 in the Brazilian state of Pará. It shows a forest area affected by a fire.
The second image was found in an article published by Le Parisien on August 23, 2019, discussing forest fires in the Amazon. The image, credited to EPA/MAXPPP/Porto Velho Firefighters, was taken in Porto Velho, Brazil, on August 18, 2019, and shows a forest area ravaged by fires.
The third image was found in an article published by CNEWS on March 8, 2021, discussing the destruction of tropical forests. The image, credited to Carl de Souza / AFP, shows the Amazon region's significant losses. These findings confirm that the images do not show recent fires in Mushinga forests.
The fourth image was also analyzed, and the search results consistently pointed to the images being associated with Amazon forest fires. The investigation by Eleza Fact highlights the importance of verifying information and images shared on social media to avoid spreading misinformation.
Key points
- The images of forest fires shared on social media do not show Mushinga forests in DR Congo's South Kivu region but are from the Amazon basin in Brazil.
- The images have been circulating online for several years, long before their recent publication on social media.
- The investigation by Eleza Fact aims to combat misinformation and promote fact-based reporting.
