A recent video circulating on social media claimed that Belgium had deployed 300 to 400 soldiers, along with tanks and drones, to Kindu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to support the Congolese army (FARDC) and its allies against the M23 rebels. The video, published by Kivoyogo Emmanuel on September 4, stated that the Belgian troops were officially on a training mission but were actually participating in combat. This claim has been denied by official sources.
Eleza Fact, a fact-checking organization, investigated the claim and found that similar allegations had circulated in March 2025 and were then debunked by Belgian authorities. A search of images and previous publications revealed that the video had been shared before, with the same claims, but no credible evidence supported the deployment of such a large number of Belgian troops. The Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, had reacted to the previous circulation of the claim on March 26, 2025.
According to the Belgian Ministry of Defense, only a dozen Belgian soldiers are currently engaged in the European Peace Facility (EPF) in DRC, stationed in Kindu. Their role is to supervise the EPF project, which aims to provide non-lethal equipment to the Congolese army, and to support infrastructure work at the Lwama camp. The Ministry emphasized that there is no deployment of troops to participate in combat operations against the M23 rebels.
The DRC government and Belgian authorities have not announced any deployment of 300 to 400 Belgian soldiers, along with tanks and drones, to support the FARDC and its allies against the M23. No credible media outlet has reported such a deployment. Eleza Fact contacted the Belgian Embassy in DRC for comment but had not received a response at the time of writing.
The origin and context of the video currently associated with the claims could not be established by Eleza Fact. The organization stresses the importance of verifying images, their context, and accompanying claims separately, especially from official sources. The video's circulation may aim to sow discord and escalate tensions in the region.
The eastern DRC has been plagued by conflict, with the M23 rebels clashing with the FARDC and its allies. The situation remains volatile, with frequent reports of military movements and allegations of foreign interference. Official sources must be consulted to verify information and avoid spreading misinformation.
In conclusion, there is no factual evidence to support the claim that Belgium deployed 300 to 400 soldiers to eastern DRC to fight the M23 rebels. Official sources confirm a limited Belgian military presence in Kindu, focused on supporting the Congolese army through the EPF, but deny any large-scale deployment.
Key points
- - The video claiming Belgian troop deployment has been debunked by official sources. - Belgian authorities had previously denied similar allegations in March 2025. - Only a dozen Belgian soldiers are stationed in Kindu as part of the European Peace Facility.
