A recent TikTok post circulating in Kenya and other parts of Africa has been found to be false. The post, published on September 20, 2026, claims to show members of the M23 and Rwandan military being arrested by the Forces armées de la République démocratique du Congo (FARDC). The video shows dozens of men resembling soldiers, seated on the ground, with a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition before them. However, a thorough investigation by PesaCheck, a renowned fact-checking organization, has revealed that the claims are unfounded.
PesaCheck conducted a reverse image search using Bing, which led them to a X account of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an Ethiopian armed group. The OLA claimed to have captured several Ethiopian soldiers and seized weapons in an operation in western Shewa, Ethiopia, on April 10, 2025. The OLA's statement was corroborated by an article published on April 13, 2025, which mentioned that the military defeat had sparked disagreements between the commander and his subordinates.
The Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) and the Mouvement du 23 mars (M23) are a politico-military coalition that has been involved in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The group recently announced its transformation into a new entity called the Front pour la refondation de la nation (FRN), led by former Congolese President Joseph Kabila. The conflict in eastern DRC has been ongoing since 2021 and escalated in early 2025 with the capture of Goma and Bukavu.
In September 2026, the FARDC, supported by the Wazalendo militia, launched an offensive against the AFC/M23 in North Kivu, specifically in the territories of Masisi, Walikale, and Rutshuru. PesaCheck's investigation found that the TikTok post was part of a series of fact-checking exercises aimed at curbing misinformation on social media platforms.
PesaCheck's work is crucial in establishing a partnership with Facebook and other social media platforms to help distinguish facts from fiction. By providing the public with a deeper understanding and context of the posts they see on their social media feeds, PesaCheck and similar fact-checking organizations play a vital role in combating misinformation.
The conflict in eastern DRC has been one of the most severe in the region since 2021, with the FRN, allegedly supported by Rwanda, clashing with government forces. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing fighting and ceasefire agreements being brokered.
PesaCheck's findings highlight the importance of verifying information, especially on social media platforms, to prevent the spread of misinformation. The organization continues to work tirelessly to fact-check and debunk false claims, providing the public with accurate information to make informed decisions.
Key points
- PesaCheck debunks false claims of M23 captures in DRC
- The TikTok post was found to be showing an OLA operation in Ethiopia
- The conflict in eastern DRC remains ongoing and volatile
