AFC/M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa has condemned the reinstatement of Major General Sylvain Ekenge as spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC), months after his suspension over remarks targeting Tutsi women.
Bisimwa, the deputy political leader of AFC/M23 in charge of political affairs, made the remarks in a post on X on September 28, 2026, arguing that Ekenge’s return sends a concerning message about the position of authorities in Kinshasa.
Ekenge was suspended in late 2025 after remarks he made on the national broadcaster RTNC on December 27, in which he warned Congolese citizens against marrying Tutsi women and made statements that were criticized as targeting the community on ethnic grounds.
FARDC subsequently distanced itself from Ekenge’s comments, saying they did not represent the position of the army or the government.
Bisimwa questioned why Ekenge had now been restored to his position without a public explanation of how the controversy surrounding his previous remarks had been addressed.
He said the decision raises questions about whether measures had been taken to prevent similar statements from being repeated.
Bisimwa further argued that when a government representative targets citizens based on ethnicity, it can undermine public confidence in state institutions and affect relations between communities.
“We condemn the return to duty of this person who spreads hatred, and we reiterate our opposition to policies of persecution and stigmatization of people based on ethnicity,” Bisimwa said.
AFC/M23, he added, supports peaceful relations among people from different ethnic backgrounds and respect for the dignity of every individual.
During Ekenge’s suspension, his responsibilities as FARDC spokesperson were temporarily handled by Deputy Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mak Hazukay Mongba.
News of Ekenge’s return emerged after he signed a FARDC statement concerning a plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, on September 25, 2026.
FARDC has not publicly explained the reasons behind his reinstatement.
Ekenge was suspended in December 2025 after anti-Tutsi remarks on state television, and the army said at the time that his words did not reflect the position of the DRC or its government. Reinstating him in his former role would contradict that stance and is read as tacit endorsement of anti-Tutsi hate speech, undermining Kinshasa’s credibility on ethnic incitement while the UN warns of genocide risks and the Washington Accords remain fragile.