In the early morning of this Wednesday, March 25, 2026, news spread widely on social media—especially by those who often speak negatively about Rwanda claiming that Rwanda had sent people to assassinate Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi, who is in Washington, DC, United States of America.
Those spreading this false information alleged that two individuals attempted to kill Tshisekedi’s wife, but that their plan was foiled by her security team.
These claims were strongly dismissed by those familiar with misinformation often fabricated by the Congolese government, stating that such rumors are usually created and circulated by the same sources.
The Embassy of Rwanda in the United States provided clarification on the matter, explaining what actually happened.
The incident took place at the hotel where Mrs. Tshisekedi was staying in Washington, DC. According to the embassy, “one of the security personnel of a Rwandan dignitary, who was staying at a Washington DC hotel and was unarmed,” encountered members of the DRC security team in a shared public area accessible to all guests.
The embassy stated that both groups were staying in the same hotel. It added that one Rwandan security officer was prevented by DRC personnel from using the elevator an action described as “inappropriate behavior in a public space.”
The embassy further explained that the situation was quickly resolved without any confrontation. It added that afterward, “the Rwandan side decided to change hotels, but they were harassed and filmed by unknown individuals as they were leaving.”
It continued: “Despite this provocation, the Rwandan team handled the situation professionally and with restraint, consistently demonstrating discipline and avoiding any escalation.”
The Rwandan Embassy also noted that despite what happened, some individuals continued to spread false information, including baseless claims made by the DRC Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya, during a press briefing the previous night. It concluded: “These baseless lies should be ignored and condemned.”
About The Author
