DR Congo Army Suspends Spokesperson Over Hate Speech Targeting Tutsi Women
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo – The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) have suspended their spokesperson, Major General Sylvain Ekenge, following discriminatory remarks he made on state television targeting Tutsi women.
The incident occurred during a broadcast where Ekenge warned Congolese men against marrying Tutsi women, whom he falsely characterized as instruments of “infiltration.” The statement invoked a long-discredited and dangerous trope often used to stigmatize and target the Tutsi community.
In a swift response, the army announced Ekenge’s suspension, condemning his comments as “divisive” and “harmful to national unity.” A military statement acknowledged that the remarks were being exploited amid heightened regional tensions, a clear reference to the ongoing friction between the DRC and Rwanda. Kigali has repeatedly accused Kinshasa of tolerating discrimination and violence against ethnic Tutsis.
The FARDC statement sought to distance the institution from the spokesperson’s views, reaffirming its “commitment to rejecting all forms of hate speech and to protecting all Congolese citizens equally, without any discrimination.”
The suspension underscores the volatile intersection of ethnicity, misinformation, and conflict in eastern DRC, where government forces are engaged in combat against the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group. Human rights groups have frequently warned that inflammatory rhetoric from public figures can fuel ethnic tensions and violence on the ground.
Major General Ekenge’s remarks and subsequent suspension highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the Congolese state in managing military communications during a protracted security crisis, while attempting to uphold principles of national cohesion and equality before the law.
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