A photograph purporting to show Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, embracing Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of Tanzania, has been circulating on social media. The image, which has been viewed and shared thousands of times, was reportedly taken after the death of Samia Suluhu Hassan's husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan. However, fact-checking by Eleza Fact has revealed that the image is actually AI-generated and not based on real events.
The image was first shared on Facebook on September 8, 2026, in a group called "Goma comedy group fan," which has over 236,500 members. The accompanying caption, written in Swahili, translates to "the old man has already recovered," implying that Tshisekedi had somehow "recovered" or consoled Samia Suluhu Hassan after her husband's passing. Many social media users questioned the authenticity of the image, with some accusing the poster of using AI to create a fake scene.
Eleza Fact used several tools, including Google Lens, Fake Image Detector, Undetectable AI, and WasitAI, to verify the image. The investigation found that the image was indeed AI-generated and had been taken out of context. A reverse image search using Google Lens revealed that the original video was published on August 17, 2026, on the official Instagram account of the presidency of the DRC, showing Tshisekedi's visit to Tanzania.
During his visit to Tanzania on August 17-18, 2026, Tshisekedi met with Samia Suluhu Hassan to discuss cooperation between the DRC and Tanzania, focusing on economic and security issues. The two leaders exchanged pleasantries, but there was no sign of the intimate gesture depicted in the viral image. The Congolese president returned to Zanzibar on September 8, 2026, to pay his respects to Samia Suluhu Hassan after the death of her husband.
On September 8, 2026, Tshisekedi, accompanied by First Lady Denise Nyakeru, visited Samia Suluhu Hassan at her residence in Zanzibar to present his condolences. The Congolese president bowed his head in respect and left a message of comfort in the condolence book. Photographs taken during this visit, captured by Eleza Fact, show Tshisekedi wearing a blue jacket and accompanied by his wife.
A comparative analysis of images from Tshisekedi's two trips to Tanzania reveals significant differences. During his August visit, Tshisekedi wore a grey-green jacket, while on September 8, 2026, he wore a blue jacket and was accompanied by his wife. These differences support the conclusion that the images are from separate events.
The widespread dissemination of the AI-generated image highlights the need for social media users to verify information before sharing it. The incident also underscores the importance of fact-checking in preventing the spread of misinformation.
Key points
- The image of Félix Tshisekedi embracing Samia Suluhu Hassan was AI-generated and not based on real events.
- The image was part of a broader social media campaign to spread misinformation about the relationship between the two presidents.
- Fact-checking and verification are crucial in preventing the spread of false information on social media.
