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.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia's most senior intelligence officers, according to Russian security officials and investigators.
Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday (9 February) to a total of 20 years in prison on national security charges. The verdict covers two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious materials.
Double world champion Max Langenhan delivered a dominant performance to win men’s luge singles gold on Sunday (8 February), breaking the track record four consecutive times as Germany extended its grip on the sport, now winning four of the past five Olympic titles.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
India’s trade minister said diversifying energy imports and expanding purchases of advanced technology from the United States would serve New Delhi’s strategic interests, as the two countries move closer to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement.
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