{"id":2000108306,"date":"2026-04-11T10:33:49","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T08:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/?p=2000108306"},"modified":"2026-04-12T11:27:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T09:27:53","slug":"dr-bizimana-exposes-role-of-hate-media-in-fueling-genocide-against-the-tutsi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/dr-bizimana-exposes-role-of-hate-media-in-fueling-genocide-against-the-tutsi\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Bizimana exposes role of hate media in fueling Genocide against the Tutsi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

He made the remarks on the evening of April 10, 2026, during a commemoration marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event, organized by the Rwanda Media Commission, brought together journalists and media leaders to honor media professionals who were killed during the genocide simply because of their identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Director General of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, Cl\u00e9ophas Barore, emphasized that the journalists who were killed were not targeted for professional misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey did not broadcast or write anything that incited violence, nor did they violate any journalistic ethics. They were well-known and respected, yet that did not protect them. Instead, it made them targets, because to genocidaires, a Tutsi life had no value,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barore also noted that some journalists were later prosecuted in international courts for their role in the genocide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diane Uwadede Isimbi, daughter of Vincent Shabakaka, the founder of the former Kiberinka publication, said her father used journalism to counter the hate and misinformation being spread, particularly propaganda directed at the Rwandan Patriotic Front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chairperson of the Rwanda Journalists Association, Dan Ngabonziza, called on journalists to reject hate and actively fight genocide ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur country\u2019s painful history has shown us that the pen and the spoken word can either destroy or build. Today is a moment to renew our commitment and ensure we never become channels for messages that fuel division,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Ngabonziza urged journalists to deny a platform to individuals who promote or deny genocide, stressing the importance of safeguarding national unity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must honor our colleagues who were killed by standing firm against genocide ideology, refusing space to denial and distortion, and protecting the unity and progress Rwandans have achieved,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further emphasized that journalism should serve as a force for unity, reconciliation, and resilience, while actively rejecting divisive narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The commemoration event brought together various officials. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The President of IBUKA, Philbert Gakwenzire, also highlighted how media outlets contributed to spreading anti-Tutsi hatred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he commended the post-genocide transformation of Rwanda\u2019s media into a sector that supports nation-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bizimana explained that genocidal propaganda in the media was rooted in extremist political movements. He outlined how, prior to the genocide, various media outlets systematically spread hatred and encouraged Hutus to kill Tutsis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited cases of media figures prosecuted internationally, including Ferdinand Nahimana, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, and Hassan Ngeze, who were tried together for their role in inciting genocide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The minister described different categories of media at the time: state-owned outlets, so-called independent outlets aligned with the government, and others that did not openly promote hatred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed out that the infamous Radio T\u00e9l\u00e9vision Libre des Mille Collines recruited skilled journalists and former officials to effectively disseminate its extremist agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He further explained that RTLM\u2019s operations were closely linked to the presidency, underscoring its political importance. Government officials were integrated into its leadership structures, while intelligence officials were tasked with supplying information and identifying loyal, hardline journalists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among those involved were Donath Hakizimana, then Secretary General of the national intelligence service, who helped source information and personnel for RTLM, and Gaspard Musabyimana, now based in Belgium, who managed programming and collaborated with intelligence networks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musabyimana is also linked to Radio Inkingi, which continues to spread genocide ideology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The President of IBUKA, Philbert Gakwenzire, also highlighted how media outlets contributed to spreading anti-Tutsi hatred.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bizimana also identified Ferdinand Nahimana as one of the key architects of genocide ideology, including the concept of \u201ccivilian self-defense,\u201d which encouraged collective violence against Tutsis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that media houses such as ORINFOR, Imvaho, Kangura, and Kinyamateka played varying roles in spreading divisive narratives at different times. He specifically highlighted how Kinyamateka contributed to shaping anti-Tutsi sentiment through its publications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Bizimana, RTLM strategically recruited charismatic journalists known for engaging content, including music, sports, and general news, to attract a wide audience while subtly embedding hate messages. These included figures such as Georges Ruggiu and Val\u00e9rie Bemeriki, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bizimana stated that journalists played a role in the Genocide against the Tutsi through the words they used on radio, television, and in other media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey did not pick up machetes to kill, they did not throw grenades into crowds, they did not use guns, nor did they engage the enemy in combat. They killed through words and through their publications,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added, \u201cKilling can also be carried out through writing and speech, and that is often where genocide begins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bizimana emphasized that no one in a country that has experienced genocide should afford themselves the luxury of forgetting its history or acting as if they are unaware of the country\u2019s past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a country that has gone through genocide, with a painful history of ethnic politics, discrimination, and the Genocide against the Tutsi, no journalist, politician, or any individual should behave as though they are in a country without such a background. It is clear that there are journalists and self-proclaimed politicians who act carelessly, ignoring the unique history of ethnic division and genocide in this country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged journalists to learn from those who upheld professionalism and integrity, to avoid aligning themselves with hate, division, and genocide ideology, and instead commit to playing a constructive role in building society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

List of some journalists killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi and their respective media houses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ORINFOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. RUBWIRIZA Tharcisse
2 .MWUMVANEZA M\u00e9dard
3. GASANA Cyprien
4 .KARAKE Claver
5. KARAMBIZI Gratien
6. KARINDA Viateur
7. RUDAHANGARWA J. Baptiste
8. SEBANANI Andr\u00e9
9. KALISA Calixte
10. NSABIMANA Emmanuel
11. BUCYANA Jean Bosco
12. MBUNDA F\u00e9lix
13. MUNYARIGOGA Jean Claude
14. NSHIMIYIRYO Eudes
15. Byabagamba Stratton (killed in 1992, he worked for teh Catholic Church hosting a show at Radio Rwanda)\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LE PARTISAN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

15. HABINEZA Aphrodice (SIBO)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LE TRIBUN DU PEUPLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

16. MUKAMA Eug\u00e8ne
17. HATEGEKIMANA Wilson
18. GAKWAYA Eug\u00e8ne
19. RUGAJU Jean Claude<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LE FLAMBEAU<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

20. BAZIMAZIKI Obed
21. KARINGANIRE Charles
22 .MUNANA Gilbert<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RAFIKI<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

23. KAYIHURA Octave
24. NTAGANZWA Alexis<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KINYAMATEKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. NKUBIRI Sylvestre
26. MUGANZA Clement
27. KAYINAMURA M.Beduwa
28. SERUVUMBA Anastase<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LE SOLEIL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

29. KAYIRANGA Marcelin
30. MUKAMUSONI Jeanne d\u2019Arc
31. BURASA Prisca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISIBO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

32. MURERAMANZI N\u00e9h\u00e9mie
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KANYARWANDA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/strong>33. NKUNDIMANA Joel
34. MUTESA Donat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KANGUKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

35. RWABUKWISI Vincent (RAVI)
36.MBARAGA Wellars<\/p>\n\n\n\n


KIBERINKA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/strong>37. SHABAKAKA Vincent
38. NYIMBUZI Aloys
39. KAMANAYO Th\u00e9otime<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RWANDA RUSHYA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

40. KAMURASE Martin
41. MUDATSIKIRA Joseph
42. KAMEYA Andr\u00e9
L\u2019OBSERVATEUR
43. MUNYAKAZI Bernard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

44. MBUGUJE Sixbert
45. MUKAMANA Winifrid
46. RUKUNDO Emmanuel
47. RUTSINDURA Emmanuel
48. RUTSINDURA Alphonse
49. RWEMARIKA Claude
50. TWAGIRAMUNGU Felix<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Director General of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, Cl\u00e9ophas Barore, emphasized that the journalists who were killed were not targeted for professional misconduct.
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damasc\u00e8ne Bizimana, has detailed how the media played a central role in inciting hatred and mobilizing violence that culminated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000108315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[151,72],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000108306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-40","tag-editors-choice","tag-featured-news-home","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000108315,"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","alt":"","caption":"Dr. Bizimana explained that genocidal propaganda in the media was rooted in extremist political movements. ","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":666,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","width":150,"height":100},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","width":300,"height":200},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","width":768,"height":511},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","width":1000,"height":666},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bz.jpg","width":1000,"height":666}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000108306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000108306"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000108306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000108321,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000108306\/revisions\/2000108321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000108315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000108306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000108306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000108306"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000108306"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000108306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}