A photograph showing a Congolese soldier observing several speedboats flying the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) flag has been shared on social media with claims that it depicts a demonstration of force by the DRC's military, known as FARDC, following a skirmish with the Republic of Congo's military. However, fact-checking by Eleza Fact reveals that the image was taken in a different context. The photo was captured during an official ceremony to launch a campaign to mark the Congo River and Kasaï River, organized in Kinshasa on August 25, 2026.
The incident that sparked the misinformation occurred on August 26-27, 2026, near Makotipoko, where a confrontation took place between the naval and gendarmerie forces of the Republic of Congo and DRC military personnel. This event drew significant attention on social media, with many reactions and interpretations. The image in question was shared by Clément Muya on September 4, 2026, with a caption suggesting it was a demonstration of force by FARDC.
Eleza Fact conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens to verify the origin of the photograph. The search revealed that the image was part of a series published on August 25, 2026, on the Instagram account of the DRC's Ministry of Transport, Communication, and Unclogging. The publication concerned an official ceremony for the launch of a national campaign to mark the Congo River and Kasaï River, organized in the presence of President Félix Tshisekedi and several political and administrative officials.
The image appears in the sixth position of the series, and the ministry confirms that the ceremony took place on August 25. The legend of the publication explains that President Tshisekedi presided over the ceremony, which aimed to secure navigation and facilitate the transport of people and goods on waterways. A visual element in the lower right corner of the image, the logo of the Ministry of Transport, Communication, and Unclogging, further supports the connection to the official event.
Additional evidence confirms the context in which the photograph was taken. The Presidency of the Republic published an article on August 25, 2026, stating that President Tshisekedi launched the marking campaign at the ONATRA port. The operation aims to improve navigation and transportation on waterways. The photograph also appears in other publications related to the same ceremony, such as on the Facebook page of Bunia Actu and the TikTok account of the Ministry of Transport.
The chronology of events contradicts the claim that the image shows a demonstration of force following the incident. The photograph was published by the Ministry of Transport on August 25, 2026, before the Makotipoko incident, which occurred on August 26-27. This difference in dates establishes that the photograph cannot represent a demonstration of force in response to the incident.
After the incident, diplomatic channels were prioritized to avoid escalation. On August 28, authorities from both countries announced steps to calm the situation, expressing regrets and reaffirming their commitment to preserving good-neighborly relations. An investigation was also opened to determine the exact circumstances of the incident and potential responsibilities.
Key points
- The photograph of FARDC soldiers on the Congo River was taken during a ceremony to launch a campaign to mark the river, not as a demonstration of force.
- The image was captured on August 25, 2026, before the incident near Makotipoko on August 26-27.
- The DRC and Republic of Congo authorities prioritized diplomatic channels to resolve the situation and avoid escalation.
