Congolese President Tshisekedi Denied Entry to Hungary? Unverified Reports Cause Stir Amid Ebola Crisis

Conflicting claims emerge over whether Félix Tshisekedi traveled to Budapest for the Champions League final

A fast-spreading but unverified rumor claims that Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi was refused entry at Budapest Airport on Saturday, May 30, after arriving with a delegation to attend the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal at Puskás Aréna.

According to posts circulating on X (formerly Twitter), Hungarian airport authorities cited two reasons for blocking the president and his entourage: that they had not been notified of the arrival in advance, and health concerns linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC’s Ituri province.

The report adds an unusual twist: Tshisekedi’s brother, Christian Tshisekedi, is said to have landed in Hungary days earlier with friends, traveling via Brussels on multiple private jets, and was already on site for the match.

No Official Confirmation

Despite the dramatic claims, no official confirmation has come from DRC authorities, Hungarian government officials, or Budapest Airport. No photos or videos of the alleged incident have emerged.

In fact, the DRC presidency has continued sharing updates of President Tshisekedi leading a cabinet meeting in Kinshasa on Ebola and security — suggesting he may never have left the country. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is reportedly scheduled to meet Tshisekedi in DRC on Monday, further casting doubt on the Budapest story.

Ebola Crisis Context

DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak on May 15, with over 900 suspected cases and 241 confirmed deaths to date. The outbreak has earned an emergency label from the World Health Organization.

The unverified travel rumor has drawn sharp online criticism, with many questioning the president’s priorities amid a severe health crisis at home. However, journalist Arcel Mayumbi Ndombasi has called the report a “baseless rumor.”

Verdict

As of now, the claim that President Tshisekedi was denied entry to Hungary remains unsubstantiated. The story appears to originate from social media posts and lacks any supporting evidence from credible official or media sources.