Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM)

The office from which Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) was broadcast during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM)

Radio Télévision des Mille Collines’ (RTLM) was a privately held radio station with a number of shareholders, led by Félicien Kabuga in the role of President of the Assembly of the Shareholders. RTLM became infamous for spreading hate speech, encouraging violence, and dehumanizing Tutsi during the genocide. Daily, the radio station broadcast incitement such as, “Those who have guns, immediately go to these cockroaches and encircle them and kill them.” propaganda tactics were instrumental in fostering an atmosphere of genocidal hatred and murderous violence against Tutsi. RTLM used propaganda as a weapon to dehumanize the Tutsi and incite widespread violence by spreading lies, personal attacks, and concocted stories of impending Tutsi attacks. By creating the false narrative that the Tutsi population was actively attacking Hutu peoples, RTLM was able to strike fear into its listeners and persuade them to take part in the genocide. By fostering an us-versus-them mentality and pointing to the physical appearance commonly associated with Tutsi, RTLM created an environment where Tutsi were perceived as less than human, making it easier to justify violence against them. RTLM’s role in the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi may serve as a reminder of the devastating consequences that can arise when media is manipulated as a tool for violence and division. As we reflect on Rwanda’s post genocide media regulation and the global lessons learned, it becomes evident that the responsible use of media is vital for conflict prevention, human rights protection, and reconciliation. The legacy of RTLM compels us to recognize the dual potential of media to serve either as force for good or a weapon of destruction, when not properly supervised. We recognize the collective responsibility of societies and governments to ensure that media is used for the just purposes.

Quick Links

Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) Overview

The Role of the Radio

Bibliography

Melvern, Linda. Conspiracy to Murder: The Rwandan Genocide. London: Verso, 2006.

Mironko, Charles. “The Effect of RTLM’s Rhetoric of Ethnic Hatred in Rural Rwanda.” In Media and the Rwanda Genocide, edited by Allan Thompson, 57-72. Pluto Press, 2007.

Nahimana, Ferdinand, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, and Hassan Ngeze. “Ferdinand Nahimana, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, Hassan Ngeze v. The Prosecutor: Case No. ICTR-99-52-A: Judgment.” Arusha, Tanzania: United Nations, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, 2007.

Photo Source

Swart, Mia. “‘Music to Kill to’: Rwandan Genocide Survivors Remember RTLM.” Al Jazeera, June 7, 2020.