The Congolese army has suspended its spokesperson, Major General Sylvain Ekenge, following remarks widely criticised as discriminatory, military sources confirmed on Monday.
The decision is taken by the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), less than 48 hours after the senior officer made comments that sparked strong public backlash.
On Saturday, General Ekenge publicly alleged that women from the Congolese Tutsi community were allegedly engaged in a strategy aimed at maintaining what he described as a form of “supremacy” through childbirth. The remarks were quickly condemned for their stigmatising and inflammatory nature, particularly in a country where identity-related tensions have repeatedly fuelled violence.
The suspension comes amid concerns that such statements, made by a senior military official, could undermine national cohesion and further inflame sensitivities in the eastern part of the country, already destabilised by armed conflict and regional tensions.
President Félix Tshisekedi, who has consistently positioned himself against ethnic discrimination, has repeatedly stressed that all Congolese communities are equal before the law, warning against narratives that target or marginalise specific groups. In this regard, during a press conference on 22 February 2024, the Congolese head of state stated: “I am the first President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, if not the only one, to have said loud and clear, when speaking about the Banyamulenge — and I extend this to all Congolese Tutsis — that they are our fellow citizens. Some Banyamulenge have died for this Republic and under its flag. I have had enough of this discourse that seeks to discriminate against these populations.”
The episode highlights the authorities’ stated commitment to combating hate speech and discrimination, particularly within state institutions, at a time when the country faces heightened political and security challenges.
JEK
