MEDIA COUNTRY BRIEF – RWANDA
Population: 8.5 million (approx.)
Capital: Kigali
Area: 26, 340 sq km
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), English (official), Swahili
Religions: Roman Catholic 57%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11%, Muslim 5%, indigenous beliefs
0.1% traditional beliefs
Type of State: Republic
Head of State: President Paul Kagame
Literacy: 70% age 15 and over can read and write
Male: 76%
Female: 65%
Television Users: Information unavailable
Radio Users: Information unavailable
Internet Users: 25 000
Media and the genocide
Rwanda’s history and development bear the burden of the 1994 genocide. Although this was not
the first occurrence of mass killings in Rwanda, due to the swiftness and scale of the events of
1994 (resulting in an estimated 800 000 to 1.1. million deaths), it attracted a great deal of global
attention and criticism of Rwandan and international actors. Rwandan media played a central
part in the tragedy, and its repercussions continue to shape attitudes towards media policy.
The privately run, notorious “hate-radio” station, Radio Tele Libre Mille Collines (RTLM) was used
as a mode for anti-Tutsi/moderate Hutu propaganda. “Hate-radio” served as a voice of the antiTutsi campaign, inciting and instructing people how to kill. Their messages were carried across
the country and were responsible for fanning and coordinating the rapid wave that engulfed the
country following the plane crashed that killed the then President and for the hundred bloody days
that followed.
RTLM was not the only form of media where anti-Tutsi propaganda first became prevalent. The
state-owned newspaper Kangura was the original instigator that began demonizing Tutsis and
RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front, Tutsi rebel force that eventually stopped the genocide) in October
1990. It was effective in instilling fear and hatred, “Whatever Kangura called for usually occurred,
when it related to specific individuals, and this added to the fear which the newspaper inspired”
(www.internews.org). Rwanda’s public television began broadcasting in 1992; however the
impact of television as a form of media was very limited because only the upper-class elite had
televisions at the time, where as the middle-classes only had televisions for playing video
cassettes. Although some journalists insulted the RPF regularly on their television stations there
was a certain amount independence because the chief-editor did not tolerate unbalanced news
broadcasting (www.i-m-s.dk).
Ten years later, on December 3, 2003, the International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR)
issued verdicts and sentences during the trial of the “hate media”. RTLM’s founder, Ferdinand
Nahiman and Hassan Ngeze, a former editor of the newspaper Kangura were sentenced to life in
prison after being found guilty. Another RTLM staff, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza was sentenced to
35 years in prison and a fourth journalist, Georges Ruggiu, a Belgian, had been sentenced to 12
years in prison. This was a very significant milestone as it was the first time since the end of
World War II and the Nuremberg trials, that journalists were sentenced to life imprisonment for
inciting murder and violence in their news reports and editorials (www.englishpen.org).
Official Media Policy
One of President Kagame’s first tasks after his election in 2003 was to revive the Information
Ministry (Orinfor), which had been disbanded in the aftermath of the genocide. Orinfor’s mandate
is to serve the development of all Rwandans. However, according to Reporteurs Sans Frontiers
(RSF), only one or two newspapers carry reports criticizing the government and as a result, they
are the likely to be targeted by authorities. RSF maintains that although President Kagame’s
government boasts about its support for press freedom, it has leveraged on of the wave against
“hate media” to justify strict media laws. More action has been called for to guarantee that
reporters can work safely. According to RSF (www.rsf.org) and the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk),
numerous examples of the detainment of journalists can be cited. Perhaps the most commonly
cited is that of “Radio Rwanda” journalist Dominique Makeli who is accused of inciting genocide in
his reports; however has never appeared in court (www.afrol.com/articles) and September 2004
marked the tenth anniversary of his imprisonment.
In May 1994, while covering what was believed to be an apparition of the Virgin Mary in Kibeho,
western Rwanda, Makeli reported that she allegedly said, "The parent is in heaven." The
prosecutor insisted that, at the time, this was taken to mean, "President Habyarimana is in
heaven." This was interpreted as a message of support for the former President and, by
extension, the policy of exterminating Tutsis and moderate Hutus (www.afrol.com). Essentially,
both sides have valid reasons to express concern. Makeli’s long detention while awaiting trial is
not unique as the judicial system is strained to maximum capacity.
Umuseso, the independent Rwandan weekly newspaper has challenged what they believe to be
the government’s heavy-handed media policy. They were threatened with temporary closure after
refusing to reveal sources. On August 18, 2004 the High Council of the Press (HCP) called on
Umuseso’s editor to “acknowledge his mistakes” reveal sources and publish corrections for a
series of controversial articles accusing the national assembly vice-president of plotting to seize
power. The HCP recommended the Information Ministry suspend Umuseso for four months.
Other journalists have been arrested and newspapers seized because of provoking alleged ethnic
divisions.
Umuseso’s managing editor Ismael Mbonigaba was arrested on a charge of “inciting divisions
and discrimination” because his paper reported that former Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramungu
would run against President Kagame in the coming presidential election. More recently however,
(November 2004) in a Kigali court Umuseso’s Charles Kabonero was to be imprisoned for
allegedly “sowing divisions”. This verdict was dropped and he was instead fined for “libel
attacking the dignity of a high authority.” The media covering the trial and Reporters Sans
Frontiers (RSF) hope that this modified verdict will help open up the way for reform of a more free
press (www.afrolnews.com).
Current Media
Given the impact of “hate-media” on the 1994 genocide, the media today are regulated
significantly by the government. The first privately run radio station began broadcasting in 2004.
There is a growing number of privately run radio stations and according to the BBC, they face
government restrictions and generally undertake self-censorship. However, others maintain that
journalists in Rwanda are obliged to follow a “Journalists and Media Code of Ethics” which
emphasizes integrity and truth1. Government criticism is permitted provided it is based on sound
evidence.
Summary of print press and ownership
-The New Times - private, pro-government, English-language
-Rwanda Herald - private, English-language
-Rwanda Newsline - owned by Rwanda Independent Media Group, English-language
-Umuseso - sister paper to Rwanda Newsline, Lang: Kinyarwanda language
Summary of television companies and ownership
-Television Rwandaise (TVR) - state-owned
Summary of radio companies and ownership
-Radio-Rwanda - state-owned, languages: English, French, Kinyarwanda and Swahili
-Radio 10 - private
-Flash FM – private
-Radio IZUBA
-Radio Contact
-Radio Maria
Summary of news agencies and ownership
-Rwanda News Agency (RNA) - pro-government
-Orinfor - government information agency
Recent Developments
The BBC World Service and the Rwanda Bureau of Information (ORINFOR) signed a five-year
agreement in August 2003 where by the Rwandan government allocated the BBC a renewed
license to broadcast nationwide. The new agreement will result in the BBC opening two new FM
relays increasing its coverage in and around Rwanda. The BBC World Service was the first
international broadcaster to open FM broadcasting in Kigali since 1998 and has attracted a large
weekly audience in Kigali (70% of radio listeners). Voice of America is also widely listened to and
broadcasts for one hour a day. In addition Deutsch Welle, RFI have correspondents in Kigali.
Since the current democratic government was elected efforts have been made to restructure
media practices and professionalism. Prof. Laurent Nkusi, who helped set up the School of
1
Epiphanie Buzizi and Liliane Kanzayire, Stanhope Fellows, March 2005.
Journalism and Communication at The National University of Rwanda in Butare is now Minister of
Information. He is optimistic about a strong future for the media based on present plans of
recovery. Partnerships have been made with the School of Journalism, UNR and the Swedish
International Development Agency (SIDA), which have helped to instil a sense of professionalism
through training. Several training sessions have already been conducted for local journalists from
both public and private media, in line with the ministry’s mission to support professionalism in the
media practice. Moreover, plans have been established to start a Journalism Training Institute
where journalists from both the private and public media houses would be able to go for refresher
courses. According to some reports the government is now prepared to enhance its respect for
the International Human Rights Conventions for which in order to revamp the media.The aim is to
have a media that is not only informative, entertaining and educative, but also, one that centres
on social responsibility and the development process in order to re-establish a nation once
broken by a divisive ideology propagated largely through the media (www.newtimes.co.rw).
Sources and relevant links
www.afrol.com (Indepedent news agency dedicated exclusively to Africa)
www.allafrica.com (African news agency)
www.ari-rna.co.rw (Rwanda’s News Agency)
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rw.html
www.englishpen.org (British Human Rights Organisation)
www.global issues.org/Human Rights
www.gov.rw (The Government of Rwanda’s official website)
www.hrw.org (Human Rights Watch)
www.i-m-s.dk (International Media Support – Report)
www.internews.org (Internews – Information Access)
www.news.bbc.co.uk (BBC World Service)
www.newtimes.co.rw (Public Rwandan Newspaper)
www.orinfor.com (the Office Rwandais d’Information)
www.rsf.org
www.rwanda.net (Rwanda Information Exchange)