The Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) has dismissed as false and malicious a document circulating online that alleges President Paul Kagame is critically ill and receiving intensive medical care.
Labeled “FAKE NEWS” in bold red, the forged statement has spread rapidly across social media platforms, sparking concern and speculation over the health of the 67-year-old leader.
Dated June 23, 2025, and bearing what appears to be the official RDF logo, the fake document claims President Kagame is facing a “serious health crisis” and urges citizens to remain calm and pray for him. However, the RDF has firmly denied issuing any such communication.
“No such communication has been released by the RDF,” a senior military official told local media on Tuesday. “This is a deliberate act of disinformation and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Investigations are ongoing to identify those behind this forgery.”
The hoax surfaces amid growing public curiosity about President Kagame’s whereabouts, as he has not appeared in public since June 6, when he participated in a consultative meeting on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). His absence from recent regional and national events has fueled speculation on social media.
Although the Rwandan government has not officially commented on the President’s extended absence, officials have reassured the public that all state institutions are operating normally and that there is no cause for concern.
Observers say the incident highlights a broader regional trend of disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing public trust in leadership and institutions.
President Kagame, who has been in power since 2000, is widely credited with steering Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery and driving its rapid socio-economic transformation. He continues to play a pivotal role in both national and regional affairs.