I saw this on X (Twitter). Is it true?
"As his country is falling apart, with the city of Bukavu falling to the M23 fighters, and as the AU Peace and Security Council meets in Addis Ababa to discuss this deteriorating situation in DRC, President Felix Tshisekedi is celebrating Valentine’s Day in Germany."
"As his country is falling apart, with the city of Bukavu falling to the M23 fighters, and as the AU Peace and Security Council meets in Addis Ababa to discuss this deteriorating situation in DRC, President Felix Tshisekedi is celebrating Valentine’s Day in Germany."
- Tunachokijua
- Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo is a Congolese politician who has served as the fifth president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, since 2019.
Claim
A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared photos claiming they show the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, celebrating Valentine’s Day in Germany with his wife, while the Bukavu region was falling to M23 fighters. The post stated:
"As his country is falling apart, with the city of Bukavu falling to the M23 fighters, and as the AU Peace and Security Council meets in Addis Ababa to discuss this deteriorating situation in DRC, President Félix Tshisekedi is celebrating Valentine’s Day in Germany." See archived post here.
Verdict: Misleading
JamiiCheck reviewed the claim and found it to be misleading. A Google reverse image search showed that the photos were not taken in Germany on February 15, 2025, as claimed.
The images have been online since March 9, 2021, and were taken during First Lady Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi’s birthday. Journalist Stanis Bujakera posted on X: “#RDC: Félix Tshisekedi surprises his wife on the occasion of her birthday on March 9.” He reported that the president visited his wife at her office.
Top Africa News also reported on the event four years ago under the title “Romantic Surprise by DRC President,” describing the gifts and flowers she received. Denise Tshisekedi was born on March 9, 1968, and celebrates her birthday annually on that date.
JamiiCheck also found that President Félix Tshisekedi was in Germany February 14, 2025, but he had cut his trip short after M23 forces took a key airport but he was not there for Valentine’s Day. See here and here.
