A Facebook post circulating on September 14, 2026, purportedly from the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Ministry of National Education, announced the suspension of classes in Kinshasa on September 15, 2026, citing tensions in the city and concerns for student and educational staff safety. The post claimed that the decision was made due to an opposition march against constitutional changes. However, a thorough examination by PesaCheck, a fact-checking initiative, revealed that the communiqué was fake.
PesaCheck compared the suspicious communiqué with an authentic one from the Ministry of National Education and identified several discrepancies in layout, font size, graphics, and text arrangement. The fact-checking organization then consulted the official Facebook page of the DRC's Ministry of National Education, where an official post denied the authenticity of the communiqué. The Ministry urged students to attend school on September 15, 2026, and to rely only on official channels for information.
Patrick Muyaya, the government spokesperson and Minister of Communication and Media, also alerted the public to the fake communiqué. An analysis by Hive Moderation found that the fake communiqué was generated by artificial intelligence with a 60.7% probability. The opposition in the DRC, under the coalition C64, organized a peaceful march on September 15, 2026, against constitutional changes across the country.
PesaCheck's findings were part of their ongoing efforts to verify and debunk potential misinformation on social media platforms, including Facebook. The organization partners with Facebook and other social media platforms to help users distinguish between fact and fiction. PesaCheck's work involves providing in-depth analysis and context to posts that appear in users' social media feeds.
The fake communiqué was found to be part of a broader trend of misinformation, and PesaCheck's efforts aim to mitigate its impact. By verifying the accuracy of information, PesaCheck helps to promote a more informed public discourse. The organization's work is particularly important in the context of the DRC, where access to accurate information is crucial for citizens.
PesaCheck is an initiative co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein, and is incubated by Code for Africa, a leading accelerator of civic technology and data journalism on the continent. The organization's work focuses on verifying public statements about finances and service delivery, with a particular emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as healthcare, rural development, and access to water and sanitation.
The fact-checking initiative tests the accuracy of media reports and provides critical analysis to help the public make informed decisions. PesaCheck's work has significant implications for promoting transparency and accountability in the DRC and beyond. By debunking fake news and promoting accurate information, PesaCheck contributes to a more informed and engaged citizenry.
Key points
- The fake communiqué was generated by artificial intelligence with a 60.7% probability.
- PesaCheck partners with Facebook and other social media platforms to verify and debunk potential misinformation.
- The DRC's Ministry of National Education officially denied the authenticity of the communiqué, urging students to attend school on September 15, 2026.
