False medical rumors circulating on social media platforms have triggered a wave of deadly violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, resulting in at least 17 deaths according to health monitoring organizations.
The crisis began late last year in Tshopo, a rainforest-covered province in northeastern Congo, when unsubstantiated claims about a mysterious illness causing male genital atrophy began spreading through local communities.
Social media testimonials quickly amplified these baseless fears, creating widespread panic that escalated into lethal mob violence before authorities could intervene effectively.
Four medical professionals conducting vaccination research became victims of this misinformation-fueled rage in October, according to government officials and a team member who survived the attacks.
The violence has extended beyond the initial incident, with the WHO-led Africa Infodemic Response Alliance documenting 17 total fatalities connected to these false rumors, though Reuters was unable to independently confirm all reported deaths.
Elodie Ho, who directs the Nairobi-based monitoring alliance, explained how the misinformation campaign evolved: “It started in communities. It spread into social media and local media. It was amplified by those actors,” she said, noting that the false information “really led to death and murder.”
Reuters’ investigation of more than twelve video testimonials revealed that religious institutions in Tshopo helped propagate the unfounded claims. International social media accounts and regional news outlets also contributed to spreading the misinformation.
Two verified videos showed religious leaders and congregation members at churches in the provincial capital Kisangani claiming that prayer had healed supposed victims of the nonexistent condition.
To document these October incidents and examine misinformation patterns across Africa, Reuters analyzed medical research and interviewed over 20 individuals, including regional administrators, healthcare professionals, and medical specialists.
When contacted by Reuters, a Tshopo government representative confirmed that local authorities had investigated claims from five individuals who said they were affected, but discovered no evidence supporting the existence of such an illness.
Provincial officials have taken action against those who incited the panic. A local court imposed a 12-month prison sentence on a man who falsely accused another person of transmitting the alleged disease, while approximately twelve individuals were arrested, according to government spokespeople.
Medical mistrust in parts of Africa stems partly from colonial-era experiences and more recent problematic Western clinical trials, creating conditions where false health information can flourish.
The African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention notes that affordable artificial intelligence tools and widespread social media access have intensified this distrust. Limited healthcare access, weak legal systems, and social media usage all contribute to rumor proliferation.
Dr. Jean Kaseya, who leads the African Union’s disease control center, emphasized how false information prevents people from seeking life-saving medical care.
“When populations do not trust vaccines, health workers, or government policies, it means they don’t access services that can help them survive,” Kaseya stated.
Similar attacks targeting community leaders and healthcare workers have occurred in Mozambique and Malawi, connected to false cholera-related information.
A WHO-operated health information line designed to counter medical misinformation has experienced a dramatic increase in calls, jumping from 3,331 in the first quarter of 2025 to 31,636 in the fourth quarter.
Another WHO initiative tracking community interactions has documented approximately 500 incidents since launching last year involving rumors, conspiracy theories, and other misleading information.
Dr. Bavon Tangunza, who manages the misinformation response alliance in Congo, received early warnings about the false illness claims in Tshopo during early October when a colleague alerted him to rumors circulating in the province.
Video testimonials from alleged victims soon emerged online, including footage of a taxi driver speaking at a Christian event in Tshopo, describing how megachurch pastor Jules Mulindwa of the Pentecostal Church Light of the World had supposedly cured him through prayer.
The taxi driver provided no evidence for his claims, and Reuters could not determine his identity or who recorded the video, which displayed the church’s logo. A prominent church worker posted it on TikTok, where it gained widespread viewership and sharing.
The video accumulated over 300,000 views on the Facebook page of Boyoma Revolution, an online news platform registered with a Marseille, France address.
Mulindwa, who presents himself as a prophet with a TikTok channel showing large follower crowds and over 400,000 subscribers, has previously made false claims about curing coronavirus, according to CongoCheck, an online fact-checking organization.
Court records reviewed by Reuters show he received a 12-month prison sentence for defamation last year, though a prosecution lawyer confirmed he has not served the sentence. A close relative working for Mulindwa disputed the conviction when contacted by Reuters.
Mulindwa did not respond to comment requests from the news agency.
Additional footage posted October 3 by a local congregation called Assemblée Chretienne de Kisangani showed pastor Christophore Kabamba claiming to possess a miraculous cure. The church did not respond to Reuters’ inquiries.
James Baka, a Kisangani university student appearing in the video, told Reuters through Facebook messaging that he witnessed others being miraculously healed by the pastor.
When asked for comment, Boyoma Revolution acknowledged no evidence existed for the illness but did not explain why the video remained on their platform.
Meta placed the October video from Mulindwa’s church into their third-party fact-checking review system after Reuters brought it to their attention, according to a company statement.
Meta’s fact-checkers evaluate content on a scale reaching ‘false,’ with each rating carrying different restrictions and labels, based on their misinformation policy for regions outside the United States.
When asked about specific actions taken regarding the material, Meta indicated that fact-checkers determine appropriate ratings independently.
TikTok did not immediately respond to Reuters’ questions.
Tshopo Kwetu, a regional news outlet, also shared posts about the fabricated illness. Director Gaston Mukendi told Reuters his organization published information from various sources as part of their journalistic responsibilities.
He highlighted an interview with a medical student who debunked the rumor as an anxiety-related disorder.
Violence erupted October 6 when healthcare workers arrived in villages within Tshopo’s Isangi area to conduct vaccination surveys.
In Ilambi village, young men accused the health workers of secretly spreading the fake disease after seeing outsiders wearing high-visibility clothing and carrying tablet computers, according to local officials and Jean-Claude Kengefuku Mbatu, a team member who escaped.
Two team members, medical doctors Placide Mbungi and John Tangakeya, attempted to explain their vaccine research, which had no connection to the health scare.
They were killed immediately, officials and Mbatu reported.
“They burned him alive, without even leaving me a trace of him,” Tangakeya’s widow Justine Tangakeya Basekauke told Reuters.
In neighboring Yafira village, their colleagues Mathieu Mosisi and Kevin Ilunga sought assistance from a local police officer, but an angry crowd killed them as well, Tshopo health official Marie Jeanne Lebe told Reuters following a completed incident review.
Reuters could not independently verify all circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The day following the killings, on October 7, the governor’s office released a printed and online statement declaring the rumors false and dangerous.
Over the subsequent month, AIRA’s Tangunza helped develop messages for broadcast in local languages through radio, online platforms, and community workers, while conducting workshops to prepare responses for future misinformation crises.
However, the rumors continue resurfacing months later.
In March, a woman in Congo’s Lualaba province was accused of spreading the disease and lynched, while another person survived an attack, AIRA reported based on local media accounts. Reuters could not independently verify these reports.
Efforts to combat false information face additional challenges as foreign aid cuts from the United States and other nations over the past year have left AIRA with reduced funding, director Ho told Reuters.
The Gates Foundation, one of AIRA’s funders, confirmed an active grant through December but did not indicate whether additional grants were being considered.
AIRA currently maintains personnel in only three countries, including Tangunza in Congo, down from five previously.
An artificial intelligence platform designed to track online conversations for fake information monitoring is currently inactive due to lack of funding for monthly provider subscriptions, Ho explained.
The WHO regional office indicated that discussions are ongoing to secure funding for sustaining and expanding AIRA’s operations.
