Complaint Filed at ICC Against Congolese General Over Alleged Anti-Tutsi Remarks

A group of Congolese Tutsi organizations has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, accusing former Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge of incitement and hate speech targeting the Tutsi community. The complaint was submitted on February 17, 2026, by Belgian lawyer Bernard Maingain, who represents several Congolese Tutsi families and organizations. According to the filing, statements made by Gen. Maj. Ekenge could fuel discrimination and violence against the Tutsi minority in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The legal action stems from comments reportedly made by Ekenge in December 2025 during an appearance on the national broadcaster Radio‑Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC). During the broadcast, he allegedly discouraged Congolese Tutsi women from having children with people from other ethnic groups and warned men to be cautious when marrying them. The remarks sparked strong criticism from human rights groups and members of the Tutsi community, leading to Ekenge’s temporary suspension from his role as military spokesperson. Lawyer Maingain argued in the complaint that the statements form part of a broader pattern of rhetoric targeting the Tutsi ethnic group in the DRC. He also claimed that certain individuals who promote such rhetoric have received political backing from figures within the government, including government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya. According to Maingain, the situation creates a legal paradox, where Congolese law criminalizes hate speech, yet authorities have allegedly failed to enforce those provisions consistently. The lawyer further recalled that Congolese families had previously filed a similar complaint in 2020, warning about the spread of anti-Tutsi rhetoric. He said that case was never fully investigated, despite evidence being submitted to national authorities. In his letter to the ICC Prosecutor, Maingain urged the court to examine the evidence and determine whether the statements constitute crimes under international law, including incitement to persecution or violence against an ethnic group. Under ICC procedures, once a complaint is received, the Prosecutor’s Office reviews the allegations and supporting evidence. If the information is considered credible and within the court’s jurisdiction, prosecutors may open a preliminary examination and potentially build a case for formal judicial proceedings.

Faits rapportés

A group of Congolese Tutsi organizations has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, accusing former Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge of incitement and hate speech targeting the Tutsi community. The complaint was submitted on February 17, 2026, by Belgian lawyer Bernard Maingain, who represents several Congolese Tutsi families and organizations. According to the filing, statements made by Gen. Maj. Ekenge could fuel discrimination and violence against the Tutsi minority in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The legal action stems from comments reportedly made by Ekenge in December 2025 during an appearance on the national broadcaster Radio‑Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC). During the broadcast, he allegedly discouraged Congolese Tutsi women from having children with people from other ethnic groups and warned men to be cautious when marrying them. The remarks sparked strong criticism from human rights groups and members of the Tutsi community, leading to Ekenge’s temporary suspension from his role as military spokesperson. Lawyer Maingain argued in the complaint that the statements form part of a broader pattern of rhetoric targeting the Tutsi ethnic group in the DRC. He also claimed that certain individuals who promote such rhetoric have received political backing from figures within the government, including government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya. According to Maingain, the situation creates a legal paradox, where Congolese law criminalizes hate speech, yet authorities have allegedly failed to enforce those provisions consistently. The lawyer further recalled that Congolese families had previously filed a similar complaint in 2020, warning about the spread of anti-Tutsi rhetoric. He said that case was never fully investigated, despite evidence being submitted to national authorities. In his letter to the ICC Prosecutor, Maingain urged the court to examine the evidence and determine whether the statements constitute crimes under international law, including incitement to persecution or violence against an ethnic group. Under ICC procedures, once a complaint is received, the Prosecutor’s Office reviews the allegations and supporting evidence. If the information is considered credible and within the court’s jurisdiction, prosecutors may open a preliminary examination and potentially build a case for formal judicial proceedings.