Author: Théophile Niyitegeka

To illustrate the seriousness of the issue, Macron drew parallels between today’s digital platforms and the role once played by the extremist RTLM radio station, which incited violence during the genocide.

Through RTLM, broadcasters such as Habimana Kantano, Valérie Bemeriki, and Belgian national Georges Ruggiu used hate propaganda to encourage killings, dehumanising victims and directing attackers toward those who had fled.

According to ongoing observations, much of the current genocide denial and distortion is driven by individuals in the diaspora, particularly in Europe. These include descendants of individuals involved in the genocide, as well as actors accused of being motivated by financial incentives.

Among those frequently cited is Denise Zaneza, who lives in Belgium and is the daughter of Marcel Sebatware, a former senior manager at CIMERWA cement company and an active member of the CDR party.

Sebatware is accused of having played a significant role in organising violence in Cyangugu Prefecture and of helping establish an Interahamwe militia network in Bugarama. Although he was later convicted by Gacaca courts, he continued to present himself as an opposition political figure in exile and was involved in forming the FDU-Inkingi political movement abroad.

Zaneza describes herself as a human rights activist and uses YouTube platforms to promote the claim that Rwanda experienced “two genocides,” including one against Hutu populations—an assertion widely rejected by established historical records and recognised as genocide denial discourse.

She has also alleged that the RPF-Inkotanyi were involved in genocide, despite their widely documented role in stopping the killings and restoring stability.

In a 2021 statement, Zaneza claimed that violence against Hutu populations began in 1990 and continued after 1994. However, these claims contrast with repeated calls from Rwanda’s leadership for reconciliation and non-retaliation during and after the genocide.

For instance, in October 1994, then Vice President and Minister of Defence Paul Kagame urged RPA soldiers to avoid revenge attacks and instead uphold justice and national unity.

Despite such directives, isolated incidents of revenge killings were reported and subsequently addressed through arrests and military justice procedures at the time.

Another figure mentioned in relation to genocide denial narratives is Théophile Mpozembizi, also linked to FDU-Inkingi networks in exile. He is similarly accused of promoting claims of “double genocide” through online platforms and public statements.

Rwandan official accounts argue that such narratives are often shaped by family histories tied to individuals implicated in planning or executing the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

On June 14, 2026, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean Damascène Bizimana, provided detailed accounts of the roles played by Marcel Sebatware and Jean Pierre Mpozembizi.

He explained that both were part of a network of extremist elites linked to the former Habyarimana regime and involved in political mobilisation that contributed to the organisation of violence between 1990 and 1994.

According to Bizimana, the group used their positions within CIMERWA to recruit and train Interahamwe militia members, distribute weapons, and prepare lists targeting Tutsi civilians.

He further stated that between April 14 and 17, 1994, large-scale killings in Bugarama were carried out with their direct involvement, supported by local militia and elements of the former army.

The minister also alleged that company resources, including vehicles, fuel, and funds, were used to facilitate attacks across various locations in Cyangugu and Kibuye prefectures.

Following the defeat of the genocidal regime in July 1994, fleeing perpetrators reportedly looted company assets and moved large sums of money into exile, with the intention of sustaining political and military resistance abroad.

Dr. Bizimana argues that individuals such as Zaneza and Mpozembizi should clearly distance themselves from the crimes attributed to their relatives and cooperate with justice mechanisms, as part of broader efforts to counter genocide denial and preserve historical truth.