RDF Drone Accident in Rutsiro Exploited by Disinformation Campaign

The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has reported that one of its training drones crashed in Rutsiro District on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, injuring three students who were returning home from school. The incident, caused by poor weather conditions, occurred at around 1:40 p.m.

Two of the children are receiving treatment at Kivumu Health Center, while the third was transferred to Murunda Hospital.

“The Rwanda Defence Force extends its sympathies to the families of the injured children and regrets the harm caused by this accident,” RDF said in its statement, adding that it is working with local authorities and medical teams to ensure proper care.

While RDF communicated only the facts, the incident was quickly distorted online by Congolese disinformation networks linked to President Félix Tshisekedi. These accounts falsely claimed that the Congolese army, FARDC, had carried out an attack inside Rwanda.

Military experts note that such claims are baseless. The nearest FARDC positions are more than 1,500 kilometers away from Rwandan territory, making it physically impossible for any Congolese drone to hover even 100 meters inside Rwanda’s airspace.

The spread of these fabrications is seen as a deliberate attempt to cause panic and shift attention from ongoing instability inside the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The RDF reaffirmed its focus on the wellbeing of the injured students and their families, pledging full support as they recover from the accident.