Congolese refugees living in Rwanda have sent a message to FARDC Major General Sylvain Ekenge, who recently used language that was widely condemned.
“Our Tutsi women are respectable and faithful.” This is part of the message from Congolese refugees living in different refugee camps across Rwanda, who once again organized protests to send a message to Major General Sylvain Ekenge, the former FARDC spokesperson, following his use of hate-filled language.
The protest took place on the morning of Friday, January 2, 2026, and was carried out by Congolese refugees living in Mugombwa, Kiziba, and Nyabiheke refugee camps.
This protest followed another one held on Thursday by refugees living in Kigeme and Mahama camps. The protesters carried placards with messages directed at some leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including Major General Sylvain Ekenge, who was then the spokesperson of the Congolese army.
This comes after the General used inflammatory language on the national radio and television of the DRC (RTNC), where he said that “anyone who wants to marry a Tutsi woman these days should be very careful.”
In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Ekenge claimed that a Congolese man who marries a Tutsi woman brings another person from her ethnic group into his home, saying that they would present that person as a relative, when in fact they are not, but someone she would later have children with.
These remarks were immediately and strongly condemned, prompting the DRC authorities to suspend the General from his position as FARDC spokesperson.
Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese also strongly denounced the remarks, including refugees living in Rwanda. In the messages they carried during today’s protest, they stated that the accusations made against Tutsi women by the General are lies.
One of the messages read:“Our Tutsi women are respectable and faithful to their husbands.”
One of the protesters said that when a Congolese man chooses to marry a Tutsi woman, it is because he admires her character, and indeed, they are known for having exemplary values.
She said: “Now they are turning things around and saying that a Tutsi woman should not marry someone from another ethnic group in our country. And if you look closely, even our sons are married to their daughters.”
The Congolese man added that, according to the General’s remarks, Tutsi women who are married to men from other ethnic groups would be in serious danger.
She said: “Many soldiers have married Tutsi women, and I think they are now going through very difficult times. If someone heard those words while on their way to Umuhavu or inside Umuhunde’s house, would a child born in that home have peace? […] Would that mother even be able to eat and feel safe?”
The Congolese refugees also said that such ideology is shared by high-ranking leaders in their country, including the Head of State himself, President Félix Tshisekedi.
RADIOTV10
