In a message posted on X on September 28, 2026, Bisimwa said the decision sends a worrying message about the conduct of authorities in Kinshasa.
'The reinstatement of Gen Sylvain Ekenge as spokesperson for the armed forces of the Kinshasa government, after a long period of silence over discriminatory remarks targeting Tutsi women, is a worrying sign that the authorities are determined to continue along the same path,' Bisimwa said.
He said no explanation had been provided on how the authorities addressed the remarks Ekenge made on state television or what measures had been taken to prevent similar statements from being repeated.
'No explanation has been given to help understand how the authorities in Kinshasa addressed these remarks or what measures are in place to prevent their repetition. Instead, this decision shows that hate speech is being given space within state institutions,' he said.
Bisimwa added that when a state representative targets citizens based on ethnicity, it undermines public trust in national institutions and affects relations between communities.
'We condemn the reinstatement of this person who spreads hate, and we reiterate our opposition to the policy of persecuting and marginalising people based on ethnicity,' he said.
Bisimwa said AFC/M23 supports peaceful relations among people of different ethnic backgrounds, with respect for the dignity of every individual.
Gen Maj Ekenge was temporarily suspended in late 2025 after remarks he made on state broadcaster RTNC on December 27. At the time, he warned Congolese men against marrying Tutsi women and made remarks targeting them based on their ethnicity.
FARDC distanced itself from the comments, saying they did not represent the position of the army or the government, although subsequent developments pointed to a different course.
While Ekenge was suspended, FARDC spokesperson duties were temporarily assigned to its deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Mak Hazukay Mongba.
Reports of Ekenge's return to the position emerged after he signed a FARDC statement concerning a plane crash in Kenge, Kwango Province, on September 25, 2026.
FARDC has not yet explained the reasons for his reinstatement.
Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/afc-m23-condemns-reinstatement-of-gen-ekenge-as-fardc-spokesperson/
