Rwanda Urges UN to Act Against Rising Hate Speech

New York, February 19, 2026 - Rwanda has called on the United Nations to take urgent action against the growing spread of hate speech, warning that inaction amounts to complicity.

Speaking at the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on February 18, 2026, Col. Deo Mutabazi, Military Adviser at the Rwandan Embassy to the UN, described hate speech as a deliberate, government-led project that often precedes mass atrocities and genocide.

“Hate speech is a government project, and it precedes mass atrocities, crimes of genocide and stems from a genocide ideology that has been planted in a well-planned manner,” Col. Mutabazi said.

Hate Speech as a Precursor to Genocide

Col. Mutabazi reminded UN member states that hate speech was a key factor leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, where acts of dehumanization were used to justify mass killings. He emphasized that such rhetoric should not be mistaken for freedom of expression, and silence in the face of it can be seen as support or complicity.

“I would like to emphasize that hate speech should not be confused with freedom of speech, and the UN’s continued silence on these increasing crimes is seen as supporting and complicity in the violation of the rights of a group of people and the deprivation of their identity,” he said.

Current Situation in the DRC

Col. Mutabazi’s warning comes amid escalating hate speech targeting Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese, particularly the Tutsi ethnic group, reportedly spread by elements within the DRC government.

Politicians and former military officials have made inflammatory statements, including MP Justin Bitakwira, who referred to the Tutsi as “the worst creature that ever lived,” and former military spokesman Gen. Maj. Sylvain Ekenge, who claimed on national television that Tutsi women cannot have children with spouses from other ethnic groups.

These statements coincide with airstrikes and drone attacks in areas predominantly inhabited by Tutsi-Congolese, including Minembwe Commune in South Kivu Province.

Call to Action

Rwanda reiterated its commitment to combating hate speech and called on UN member states to protect fundamental rights and the right to life, urging the international community to act before the situation escalates further.

“Rwanda is committed to combating hate speech and calls on member states to not tolerate those who deny others their fundamental right to life,” Col. Mutabazi said.

The appeal highlights the urgent need for international intervention as rising hate speech continues to fuel violence and ethnic targeting in the eastern DRC.