DRC suspends army spokesperson over remarks targeting Tutsi community

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army (FARDC) says it has suspended its spokesperson after he made discriminatory comments about the country’s Tutsi community.

On national television on Saturday, Major General Sylvain Ekenga Bomusa Efomi accused the Tutsi community of committing “treachery” by secretly placing men in marriages to father children, claiming the practice was intended to maintain the Tutsi ethnic group’s “superiority.”

The army said in a statement that the suspended spokesperson’s remarks “in no way reflect the official position” of DR Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi, or the government.

“They are incompatible with the republican values and the constitutional missions devolved to the FARDC,” it added.

Tutsis comprise up to 2% of DRC's population

The FARDC General Staff reaffirmed its commitment to defend DR Congo’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to protect the security of all Congolese, “without any distinction,” with discipline and professionalism.

The army urged the population to remain united, reject all hate speech, and support the FARDC in carrying out its mission.