On 10 February 1994, the Minister of Information, Faustin Rucogoza, took action against the Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) leadership, including Ferdinand Nahimana, Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, and Félicien Kabuga, for inciting violence and hatred through the radio station’s broadcasts. These broadcasts violated the terms of RTLM’s broadcasting license, which was intended to be a neutral outlet but was increasingly being used to stir up ethnic division and violence, particularly against the Tutsi population. This station would later play a critical role in fueling the genocidal rhetoric that spurred much of the violence during the Rwandan Genocide.
Meanwhile, UNAMIR’s Colonel Luc Marchal held a meeting with Interahamwe leaders in Kigali, where they openly declared their intentions. The militia confirmed that large numbers of Tutsi would soon be killed, signaling a terrifying escalation in the violence. This meeting highlighted the growing danger of mass atrocities, despite the presence of international peacekeepers who were increasingly overwhelmed by the mounting hostility and militancy.The events of 10 February were indicative of the deepening ethnic divisions in Rwanda and foreshadowed the brutal violence that would erupt in the coming weeks. The confrontation with RTLM leadership and the chilling warning from the Interahamwe further emphasized the inability of the Rwandan government and international peacekeepers to halt the impending genocide.