A social media post featuring a 28-second video has been analyzed by PesaCheck and found to be partially false. The post, which claims to show a protest against a proposed constitutional change in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on September 15, 2026, actually shows footage of a rally held by Martin Fayulu on December 16, 2023, in Kinshasa. The video shows a large crowd of people wearing multicolored clothing, chanting Fayulu's name, and also features politician Jean Marc Kabund.
PesaCheck conducted a reverse image search on the video and found a publication on 7sur7.cd dated December 16, 2023, with a similar image. The search results also revealed multiple articles and reports about Fayulu's meeting on December 16, 2023, at the Sainte-Thérèse de N'Djili terrain in Kinshasa. This suggests that the video was recorded during Fayulu's presidential campaign rally in 2023, not during a protest in 2026.
On September 15, 2026, the Congolese opposition, united in the C64 coalition, organized a protest march against a proposed constitutional change that could allow President Félix Tshisekedi to run for a third term. The opposition group planned to march to the Palais du Peuple to deliver a strong message against the law and any constitutional revision.
PesaCheck's analysis is part of an ongoing effort to verify facts and combat misinformation on social media platforms. The organization has partnered with Facebook and other platforms to help users distinguish between fact and fiction. PesaCheck's work involves verifying suspicious content and providing context to help the public make informed decisions.
The fact-checking process was conducted by PesaCheck's team, including fact-checker Stéphane Eyock and article editor Josaphat Finogbé. The article was approved for publication by PesaCheck's editor-in-chief, Doreen Wainainah. PesaCheck is an initiative aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in public finances and governance in Africa.
PesaCheck was co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein and is incubated by Code for Africa, a leading civic technology and data journalism accelerator on the continent. The organization focuses on verifying information related to public finances and governance, with a particular emphasis on the delivery of public services related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The verification of the video and the subsequent report are part of PesaCheck's efforts to test the accuracy of media reports and promote fact-based information. The organization's work has significant implications for promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Africa.
Key points
- The video of Martin Fayulu was recorded on December 16, 2023, not on September 15, 2026.
- The video was taken during a presidential campaign rally in Kinshasa, not during a protest against a constitutional change.
- PesaCheck's fact-checking efforts aim to combat misinformation and promote transparency in public finances and governance in Africa.
