DRC: Facebook deletes sixty accounts linked to politician Honoré Mvula

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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the social network Facebook announced that it had deleted around sixty accounts linked to the politician Honoré Mvula and his party, the Force des Patriotes (FP), who claim to be close to Félix Tshisekedi. For the social network, these pages aimed to convey disinformation and political propaganda as news content.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Facebook announced that it had deleted 66 user accounts, 63 pages, five groups and 25 Instagram accounts linked to a politician, Honoré Mvula and his party, the Force des Patriotes (FP), who claim to be relatives of Félix Tshisekedi.

With a combined total of nearly 1.5 million likes, these pages and user profiles have, according to Facebook, resorted to deceptive tactics to promote Honoré Mvula. For the social network, these pages aimed to convey disinformation and political propaganda as news content.

Facebook explains that these pages were first displayed as representing other politicians and public figures. Once a sufficient following was built, they rebranded themselves to display pro-Honoré Mvula content. Honoré Mvula's own Facebook page was created in November 2016, under the name of former Prime Minister, Samy Badibanga.

Malaise at the Presidency of the Republic

Honoré Mvula, who presents himself as a defender of the President of the Republic, explains that he inherited this page from a digital influencer who manages the communication of certain politicians. He adds that he is only linked to ten of the 63 pages deleted by Facebook.

1 / My version of the facts on the blocking of my account and my HONORE MVULA pages
This page was created and sold by the independent journalist, the influencer in social networks and account manager of several high personalities and authorities as a consultant pic.twitter.com/EhIAeKtXpZ

In the Presidency of the Republic, the question is disturbing. According to Michee Mulumba, assistant to Félix Tshisekedi, the head of state regrets and condemns these practices. He adds that Honoré Mvula does not act on behalf of the Presidency of the Republic.

This is not the first time that Facebook has taken an interest in these practices in the region. The social network had already deleted, in May 2019, several accounts and pages which, according to it, propagated content aimed at negatively influencing politics. At the time, Facebook indexed an Israeli network that is believed to be behind this activity, which also targeted several other African countries.

► Read also: Facebook and several media attacking fake news in the DRC

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• DRC
• Facebook
• Digital
• Social networks

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