A communiqué purportedly from the Alliance Fleuve Congo-Mouvement du 23 mars, a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been circulating on social media, claiming that all academic activities for the 2026-2027 year have been halted in areas under their control. The communiqué, shared on Facebook on September 17, 2026, sparked widespread concern among students and parents. However, fact-checking organization PesaCheck has verified that the communiqué is false.
PesaCheck compared the fake communiqué with an authentic one from the AFC-M23 and identified several discrepancies. The fake document features a logo with colored corners, a full title, and a specific numbering system, whereas the authentic communiqué has a simple logo, a shortened title, and a basic horizontal line. These differences indicate that the communiqué making the rounds online is not genuine.
Further investigation by PesaCheck led to the official X account (formerly Twitter) of Lawrence Kanyuka, spokesperson for the AFC-M23. Kanyuka explicitly denied the authenticity of the communiqué, stating that it did not originate from their organization. He urged the public, particularly students, to disregard the document and rely solely on official channels for information.
The fake communiqué comes amid a backdrop of academic uncertainty in the region. The Congolese government had previously ordered the suspension of academic activities in 11 public institutions in Goma and Bukavu for the 2026-2027 year. Additionally, the government revoked the positions of professors who had accepted nominations from the AFC-M23 in these two cities.
The AFC-M23's denial of the fake communiqué aims to reassure students and the general public that they are not responsible for the halt in academic activities. The group expressed their well-wishes for a successful and disciplined academic year for all students.
This incident highlights the prevalence of misinformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly on social media platforms. PesaCheck's verification process emphasizes the importance of fact-checking and relying on credible sources to avoid spreading false information.
In conclusion, the communiqué claiming that the AFC-M23 halted academic activities for 2026-2027 is fake. The public is advised to be cautious when sharing information online and to verify the authenticity of such claims through reputable fact-checking organizations like PesaCheck.
Key points
- The fake communiqué was shared on Facebook on September 17, 2026.
- PesaCheck verified the authenticity of the communiqué by comparing it with an official AFC-M23 document.
- The Congolese government had previously suspended academic activities in 11 public institutions in Goma and Bukavu.
