A Facebook post circulating in Gabon falsely claims that renowned singer Patience Dabany donated the proceeds from her recent concert to the country's former ruling party, the Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG). The post, which appears to be from the Gabonese daily L'UNION, has sparked widespread attention and reaction online. However, L'UNION has officially denied publishing the story, stating that it was fabricated.
The fake news story emerged on November 9, 2026, when a Facebook page called "L'UNOIN – Gabon" shared a visual with L'UNION's logo, claiming that Patience Dabany had decided to dedicate her concert proceeds to the PDG's reorganization. The post garnered significant engagement, with 501 reactions, 153 comments, and 37 shares on Facebook. Many commenters expressed skepticism and criticism of the claim.
A thorough examination of the fake news visual reveals several inconsistencies that cast doubt on its authenticity. Notably, the name of the newspaper is misspelled as "L'UNOIN" instead of "L'UNION". Furthermore, the website address listed on the visual, "www.somapresse.com", differs from L'UNION's official website, "www.union.sonapresse.com". These discrepancies indicate that the content is not a genuine publication from L'UNION.
L'UNION's editorial chief, Léonard Brice Mba Assoume, has formally denied the authenticity of the publication in an interview. He emphasized the differences between the legitimate newspaper's name and the fake page responsible for the visual. Mba Assoume's statement confirms that the news story is unfounded and that L'UNION did not publish it.
The fake news story has sparked concern about the spread of misinformation in Gabon. The incident highlights the need for fact-checking and verification, especially when information is shared widely on social media. L'UNION's denial aims to set the record straight and reassure the public about the credibility of their news source.
Patience Dabany, also known as "La Mama", performed a concert at the Palais des Congrès de Libreville on November 7, 2026. While there is no information on what she did with the proceeds, her team has not made any public statements about donating the funds to the PDG. The singer's representatives have not commented on the matter.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information, especially on social media, to prevent the spread of misinformation. L'UNION's denial and the facts presented aim to provide clarity on this matter.
Key points
- L'UNION newspaper denies publishing a fake news story about Patience Dabany donating her concert proceeds to the PDG.
