In Memory and Resolve: Journalists Killed in 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi Remembered

Media Fraternity Pays Tribute, Vows to Uphold Truth and Ethics

Rwandan journalists gathered on Saturday, April 12, to honor their colleagues who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The commemorative event served as both a solemn remembrance and a renewed call for ethical journalism, as media professionals reflected on the critical role the press played—both as a tool of destruction and a potential force for unity.

The ceremony, held at Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), brought together media professionals, government officials, and genocide survivors. Attendees paid tribute to more than 60 journalists known to have been killed during the genocide, many of them targeted simply because they were Tutsi.

“Many journalists were killed not because they had broken professional or ethical rules but simply because they were Tutsi,” said Cleophas BARORE, Director General of Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA). “Even if they had, the punishment was not death. There is no law that allows killing someone over ethical misconduct.”

BARORE emphasized that the genocide decimated the media sector and left a lasting wound that continues to inform how journalists approach their responsibility today.

As Rwanda marks 31 years since the genocide was brought to an end, members of the media community say they remain committed to countering denial, hate speech, and genocide ideology—particularly from international outlets that continue to distort Rwanda’s history.

Scovia MUTESI, the Chairperson of the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC), urged journalists to remain vigilant and resist manipulation.

“What should guide a journalist is not just the degree they hold, but the conscience they carry,” Mutesi said. “We must refuse to be used for purposes that tarnish our country’s image. Our responsibility is to inform, not to mislead.”

She added that integrity and ethical journalism must be prioritized over academic credentials or personal gain.

Historical accounts reveal the tragic irony that some journalists were betrayed and even killed by their own colleagues. In light of this, the gathering served as both a memorial and a platform for reflection on how far the profession has come—and the challenges it still faces.

With the memory of slain journalists in mind, media professionals pledged to uphold truth, promote peace, and ensure the media never again becomes a weapon of division.