The Democratic Republic of Congo’s army has suspended its spokesperson after he made discriminatory remarks targeting the Tutsi minority.
Maj. Gen. Sylvain Ekenga Bomusa Efomi, speaking on national television on Saturday, accused the Tutsi community of committing “treachery” by allegedly placing men in marriages to father children, claiming it was intended to maintain ethnic “superiority.”
The army said in a statement on Monday that the remarks “in no way reflect the official position” of the FARDC, President Felix Tshisekedi, or the government. It added that the comments were “incompatible with the republican values and the constitutional missions” of the military.
The FARDC reaffirmed its commitment to defend Congo’s sovereignty, protect all citizens without distinction, and carry out its duties with professionalism. The army also urged the population to remain united, reject hate speech, and support the FARDC in its mission.
The Tutsi minority, making up roughly 1–2% of the Congolese population, has historically faced discrimination and violence. The M23 rebel group, active in eastern Congo since 2021, draws heavily on fighters from the Tutsi community and cites grievances over discrimination.
The UN, the Congolese government, and other actors accuse Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels, a claim Kigali denies.
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Here are the latest stories from AnewZ’s Africa News programme, focusing on political and security developments across the African continent.
U.S. President Donald Trump brought together the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Washington on Thursday to sign a peace deal, despite ongoing fighting in the region.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has declared the end of a 16th Ebola outbreak, closing a two month emergency in Kasai Province that pushed national and international teams into an intensive response.
More than 200 health facilities in war-hit eastern Congo have run out of medicines due to widespread looting and supply chain disruptions during fighting this year, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Wednesday.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Governments across the region responded swiftly to Israel’s strikes on Iran, closing airspace, issuing travel advisories and activating contingency plans amid fears of escalation.
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 February), a spokesperson for the local fire service said.
A senior Iranian official has warned Israel to “prepare for what is coming”, insisting that Tehran’s response to the latest escalation in the Middle East will be made openly and without limits.
Protests broke out in Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday after Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes. At least nine people were reported dead in clashes near the U.S. consulate in Karachi.
Afghanistan said it had fired at Pakistani aircraft over Kabul after explosions and gunfire rocked the capital early on Sunday, marking a sharp escalation in fighting between the two neighbours.
A senior Iranian official has warned Israel to “prepare for what is coming”, insisting that Tehran’s response to the latest escalation in the Middle East will be made openly and without limits.
Cuba has released extensive details of a deadly midweek shootout at sea, showing rifles, pistols and nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition that it says were carried by a group of exiles who attempted to enter the island by speedboat.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers said on Friday (27 February) they were ready to negotiate after Pakistan bombed their forces in several Afghan cities, including Kabul and Kandahar, and Islamabad declared the neighbours were now in "open war".
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