RTBF corrects its blunder, Félix Tshisekedi is not in Kigali.

Congolese people spent good hours searching for their president of the Republic. Announced to be in France in a tweet by the Congolese press agency (ACP), which was later deleted, Félix Tshisekedi traveled on this Sunday, April 7, to an unknown destination. Rumors discreetly suggested he was in Kigali for the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. A rumor that was bolstered by a blunder from the correspondent of RTBF (official Belgian media) in Kigali who claimed the "notable" presence of Félix Tshisekedi, even though the Congolese head of state was not even on the guest list of Rwanda.

Instead of putting an end to the rumor, Félix Tshisekedi's spokesperson, Tina Salama, added a new layer by denying that the president was not in Rwanda, but had traveled to a "foreign" country. "The President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi did not go to Kigali to participate in the commemoration of the genocide contrary to what was broadcast on RTBF. He is instead traveling abroad for urgent matters related to the country," she reacted on her account X.

This did not stop the hemorrhage of questions about the location of the head of state. "But where is he?" insists a Congolese internet user. "Rwanda is also 'abroad'", another chimes in on their account X. "Iko wapi?" adds another in Swahili.

In its online version, RTBF presented "sincere apologies" for this "error" by its correspondent in Kigali. "[…] Contrary to what we erroneously affirmed in the edition of our televised news at 1 p.m. this Sunday, April 7, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Félix Tshisekedi, was not present at these commemoration ceremonies. We would like to offer our most sincere apologies for this mistake. "

As of the time of posting this information, the presidency of the DRC has still not revealed the current whereabouts of Félix Tshisekedi. The Congolese head of state and his counterpart from Burundi, Evariste Ndayishimiye, were among the notable absentees from the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.

Dido Nsapu