On Saturday June 17, 2023, Senator and opponent Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon was announced as being prevented from traveling by the General Directorate of Migration (DGM). However, this information was denied by the Director General of the DGM, Roland Kashwantale, who affirmed that he never prevented Matata from traveling.
After verification, it was proven that indeed, there was no CAA flight to Bunia in Ituri that day, a trip that the political opponent should supposedly have undertaken. The DGM also clarified that it did not retain any identity document from Matata, which was not presented to it during the formalities of Flight No. BU1251 of the CAA company on that Saturday.
It would seem that Matata, declared candidate for the next presidential election in the DRC, wanted to measure the immigration services of the international airport of N’Djili, since he had already arrived late for boarding. Anyway, he finally arrived at his destination on Sunday June 18 in Bunia, where he was welcomed by the Mayor of the city.
This is just one example among many of the proliferation of fake news or “fake news” online. Internet users must avoid spreading information before taking the time to verify it, so as not to fall into the excess of sensationalism