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Claim: A Facebook user, Suzan Gbangaye, claims President Joseph Boakai fainted at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Verdict: False! Findings revealed that the image is AI-generated.
Full Text
Liberian President Joseph Boakai is currently in New York attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Government officials, including the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, among others, accompanied the President.
On Sept. 22, 2026, Facebook user Suzan Gbangaye shared photos claiming the President fainted at the UNGA.
The post’s caption read, “Another national embarrassment has occurred at the highest level: Boakai has fainted again at UNGA. What a wow!”
The claim generated 1.4k reactions, 1.6k comments and 318 shares. In the comments, the audience argued about the post’s authenticity. Some users believed the image was AI-generated; other users made demeaning comments about the president.
Screenshot of the reactions
After carefully reviewing the account and activity on the page, DUBAWA observed that the Facebook user is a staunch supporter of the opposition party, Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
Another Facebook user, Byron Byron, reposted the claim but did not include the photos.
Because of the people involved and the claim’s potential to mislead, DUBAWA investigated.
Verification
DUBAWA subjected the image to thorough forensic analysis, comparing it with the original pictures and video posted by the Executive Mansion.
First, a manual analysis of the image already showed that it contains features of an AI-generated image. The faces of President Boakai and Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti appear different from their recent pictures.
DUBAWA also found irregularities in the President’s and the Foreign Minister’s attire.
In the photos posted on the Executive Mansion’s Facebook page, the President wears a pink tie, while in the image posted by the claimant, the President appears to wear a purple tie. A similar irregularity is seen in the pattern on Minister Nyanti’s attire.
A comparison of the doctored image on the Right with the original image on the left
Furthermore, the doctored image included the Executive Mansion logo embossed in the bottom-right corner.
The presidency would not have branded and posted such a picture that would ridicule the president.
Additionally, independent Liberian Journalist Vasta Tarlue, who is providing coverage at the UNGA 81 session, told DUBAWA via WhatsApp chat that the claim is false.
Screenshot of Tarlue’s chat with DUBAWA
Conclusion
Based on the evidence gathered, President Boakai did not faint at UNGA. Therefore, the claim is false.