Archive · 17 Sep 2026
India Rejects Misleading Claims Leaders Fell Ill After BRICS Summit
Some social-media posts said several leaders became sick after a BRICS meeting in Delhi.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the claims were fake and misleading.
The meeting happened on Saturday and Sunday.
The posts spread after South Africa said President Cyril Ramaphosa was unwell.
Ramaphosa had returned home from Delhi on Monday.
South African officials did not say what illness he had.
They also did not say that it was connected to the meeting.
Other posts suggested Chinese President Xi Jinping was sick because he missed a dinner.
Videos appeared to show that Narendra Modi was asking about Xi’s translation equipment instead.
No other leader at the summit was reported to have fallen ill.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called social-media claims that several BRICS leaders fell ill after the summit fake and misleading.
The BRICS summit was held in Delhi on Saturday and Sunday.
The claims gained traction after South Africa said President Cyril Ramaphosa would miss public events because of ill health.
Ramaphosa returned from Delhi on Monday, but officials did not disclose his illness or link it to the summit.
Posts also speculated about Xi Jinping’s health, while videos suggested Narendra Modi was asking about Xi’s audio translation device.
- Who
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- What
- India rejected claims that multiple world leaders became ill after attending the BRICS summit.
- When
- The summit took place on Saturday and Sunday; the ministry issued its warning on Thursday, after Ramaphosa returned on Monday.
- Where
- The summit was held in Delhi, India; Ramaphosa later returned to South Africa.
- Why
- The ministry said the posts were fake, misleading, and malicious; the speculation followed Ramaphosa’s illness and claims about Xi’s absence from a dinner.
Official Account
Social-Media Speculation
Leaders’ health
Official Account
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said claims that multiple leaders became ill after the summit were fake and misleading.
Social-Media Speculation
Social-media posts claimed that multiple or numerous leaders had fallen ill after attending the summit.
Cyril Ramaphosa’s illness
Official Account
South African officials confirmed that Ramaphosa was unwell and advised to rest, but did not connect his illness to the summit.
Social-Media Speculation
Some posts implied that Ramaphosa’s illness after returning from Delhi could be related to the summit.
Xi Jinping’s absence
Official Account
Videos appeared to show Narendra Modi asking about an audio translation device being handled by Xi’s staff.
Social-Media Speculation
Posts cited Xi’s absence from the leaders’ dinner and Modi’s question as possible signs that Xi had fallen ill.
- Summit location
- Delhi, India
- Summit dates
- Saturday and Sunday
- Ministry’s assessment
- The claims were described as fake, misleading, and malicious.
- Ramaphosa’s status
- His medical team advised him to rest and recover, and he would not attend public events.
- Ramaphosa’s return
- He returned from the summit on Monday.
- Social-media reach
- Some posts had more than 7.7 million views on X by 3 p.m. Thursday.
- Other reported illnesses
- No other summit attendee was reported to have fallen ill.
