On 6 December 1990, the extremist Hutu propaganda journal Kangura published the infamous “Ten Commandments of the Hutu.” These commandments were a set of directives aimed at inciting hatred and hostility against the Tutsi population, reinforcing ethnic divisions, and justifying discrimination and violence.
Key Details:
- The “Ten Commandments of the Hutu”:
- The document was a manifesto of Hutu Power ideology, advocating for the marginalization and eventual extermination of the Tutsi.
- The 8th Commandment specifically stated:
“The Hutu should stop having mercy on the Tutsi.“
This was a direct incitement to violence and a call to eliminate any empathy or compassion for Tutsi individuals.
- Role of Kangura:
- Kangura was a key propaganda tool for Hutu extremists.
- Its editorials, caricatures, and articles sought to spread fear and hatred of the Tutsi population.
- The journal targeted moderate Hutu leaders and called for the exclusion of Tutsi from public life, further polarizing Rwandan society.
- Impact on Society:
- The publication of the “Ten Commandments” legitimized discrimination against the Tutsi in political, social, and economic spheres.
- It contributed to the radicalization of Hutu extremists and prepared the groundwork for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
- Broader Context:
- The “Ten Commandments” emerged at a time of heightened tension in Rwanda, following the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invasion in October 1990.
- Hutu extremists used propaganda to rally support and portray the Tutsi as enemies of the state.
Legacy:
The “Ten Commandments of the Hutu” exemplify the role of hate media in inciting genocide. Kangura, alongside Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), was instrumental in spreading genocidal ideology, fueling the atrocities that led to the deaths of over 1 million people during the genocide in 1994.
The publication remains a stark reminder of how dangerous propaganda can incite violence and destroy societies.