The suspension of General-Major Sylvain Ekenge, the long-standing spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC), has sent shockwaves through the Great Lakes region.
On Monday, December 29, 2025, the Congolese military hierarchy took the decisive step of removing Ekenge from his post following a weekend interview on the national broadcaster, RTNC. The decision was confirmed by the Chef d’état-major général, citing “statements incompatible with the values of the republic.”
The controversy stems from Ekenge’s televised remarks, which targeted the Tutsi community with inflammatory warnings.
During the broadcast, the General reportedly cautioned Congolese men against marrying or entering into relationships with Tutsi women. He characterized these women as “agents of a foreign power,” suggesting they were being used by Rwanda to infiltrate the Congolese state and military apparatus.
➡️ This rhetoric was immediately flagged by observers as a dangerous escalation of ethnic profiling.
International monitors quickly highlighted the specific quotes that triggered the backlash.
Ekenge allegedly stated: “Our brothers must be vigilant; those they bring into their homes are not always what they seem, but are often the eyes and ears of our enemies.”
By framing personal domestic relationships as matters of national security and espionage, the General was accused of reviving dehumanizing tropes that have historically preceded ethnic violence in the region.
Ekenge is not an isolated case; rather, he represents a disturbing pattern of “everlasting” hate speech propagated by DRC officials over several years.
High-ranking figures within the administration and security services have frequently used the “Rwandophone” identity as a political scapegoat. From parliament to frontline military briefings, the narrative of “the enemy within” has been a consistent tool to mobilize public sentiment during times of military failure or political unrest.
The timing of these remarks is particularly sensitive. On December 4, 2025, the DRC and Rwanda signed the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, intended to de-escalate conflict and normalize relations.
Critics argue that Ekenge’s speech directly undermined this agreement. One regional diplomat noted that such words “poison the well of reconciliation just as the ink on the peace deal is drying.”
In response, the AFC/M23 coalition issued a blistering statement, labeling the General’s words as “genocidal propaganda.”
They argued that the military spokesperson was effectively giving a “green light” for the persecution of Tutsis within the DRC: “When a high-ranking officer uses the state’s microphone to declare an entire ethnic group as a security threat, he is not defending the country; he is preparing a massacre.”
The Congolese government’s swift suspension of Ekenge is seen by some as a necessary act of damage control.
Government officials, including Foreign Minister Thérèse Wagner, have faced increasing pressure to prove they are serious about curbing hate speech. A representative stated that the suspension was intended to show that “no individual, regardless of rank, is above the law when it comes to inciting tribalism and division among the Congolese people.”
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have warned that the “us versus them” narrative has become deeply entrenched in eastern DRC.
They noted that “digital technologies and state media are being weaponized to further inflame hate and spread lies,” creating a cycle where one official is replaced by another who may harbor similar prejudices.
The persistence of this rhetoric has led to real-world consequences, including the “hunting” of Tutsis in major cities like Kinshasa and Goma by mobs emboldened by official statements.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently warned: “Hateful, dehumanizing and inciteful rhetoric is abhorrent and can only deepen tension and violence in the DRC itself.”
As 2025 draws to a close, the Ekenge incident serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of peace in Central Africa.
While the military spokesperson has been sidelined, the rhetoric he propagated continues to circulate online and in the streets. The international community now looks to President Félix Tshisekedi to determine whether this disciplinary action marks a genuine shift toward ethnic inclusivity—or if it is merely a temporary gesture to appease foreign donors before the next crisis.
