Tatiana Mukakibibi

Last updated

Tatiana Mukakibibi (born 1965) is a former journalist and radio presenter in Rwanda.

Contents

She was imprisoned without formal trial for over 10 years, accused of inciting violence through her broadcasts during the early days of the Rwandan genocide. After pressure from international organizations including Reporters Without Borders and Journaliste en danger, she was acquitted and released in November 2007.

Biography

Mukakibibi was born in 1965 [1] in Rwanda's Muhanga region, which was then known as Gitarama.[ citation needed ]

She became a host and producer of programs on Radio Rwanda, where she worked with the prize-winning journalist André Sibomana. [2] [3] [4]

She has one daughter. [4]

Arrest and imprisonment

After the massacres of April 1994 that marked the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, Radio Rwanda broadcast official government communiques and lists of deceased persons sent by the country's prefectures. [2] [5] On July 4, 1994, after the evacuation of Kigali, Mukakibibi sought refuge along with other journalists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She returned to Rwanda on August 10, 1994, to work with Sibomana, and they settled in Kabgayi in the Gitarama region. [5] [6]

In July 1995, she was arrested for the first time and detained for a few days. Fearing further retaliation, she fled to Uganda. [5]

Then, on September 30, 1996, she returned once more to Rwanda. After being spotted by the authorities, she was arrested on October 2, 1996, in Ntenyo. She was accused of having killed a Tutsi journalist, Eugène Bwanamudogo, who had produced radio programs for the Ministry of Agriculture. Mukakibibi denied the accusation, pointing out that she was off reporting in Cyangugu at the time of Bwanamudogo's death and therefore could not have killed him. [2] [3] She suggested she was targeted to silence Sibomana, who was disseminating reports critical of the Tutsi reprisals and who died less than two years after her arrest. [5] [6]

According to journalists from Reporters Without Borders, who found a witness to Bwanamudogo's death, he was killed by soldiers in the early days of the genocide. They suggest Mukakibibi was arrested due to testimony against her from the victim's sister. There was conflict between the two families, because Mukakibibi's brother may have been part of a massacre against members of Bwanamudogo's family. [3] [6]

She appeared in front of a Gacaca court—a people's court set up to try Rwandans implicated in the 1994 genocide. There, she was labeled a member of the category of "the planners, organizers, inciters, supervisors, and framers of genocide," which carries a death sentence. Beyond the killing of Bwanamudogo, the accusations against her focused on the communiques and lists of names Mukakibibi broadcast in the early days of the genocide, as well as a statement announcing the evacuation of Kigali on July 4, 1994.

After that point, she was detained without formal trial at a communal prison in Ntenyo, in the Gitarama region, for over a decade. Various international organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, fought for her release. [2] [7]

In November 2007, she was finally acquitted by a Gacaca court and released after 11 years of detention. [4] [8] [9] [10] Before her release, she had been held longer than any of the other female journalists imprisoned around the world at that time. [11]

Related Research Articles

Human occupation of Rwanda is thought to have begun shortly after the last ice age. By the 11th century, the inhabitants had organized into a number of kingdoms. In the 19th century, Mwami (king) Rwabugiri of the Kingdom of Rwanda conducted a decades-long process of military conquest and administrative consolidation that resulted in the kingdom coming to control most of what is now Rwanda. The colonial powers, Germany and Belgium, allied with the Rwandan court.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rwandan Patriotic Front</span> Political party in Rwanda

The Rwandan Patriotic Front is the ruling political party in Rwanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interahamwe</span> Paramilitary group involved in 1994 Rwandan Genocide

The Interahamwe is a Hutu paramilitary organization active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The Interahamwe was formed around 1990 as the youth wing of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development, the then-ruling party of Rwanda, and enjoyed the backing of the Hutu Power government. The Interahamwe, led by Robert Kajuga, were the main perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, during which an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi, Twa, and moderate Hutus were killed from April to July 1994, and the term "Interahamwe" was widened to mean any civilian militias or bands killing Tutsi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rwandan genocide</span> 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda

The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred from 7 April to 19 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. Over a span of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were systematically killed by Hutu militias. While the Rwandan Constitution states that over 1 million people were killed, most scholarly estimates suggest between 500,000 and 662,000 Tutsi died. The genocide was marked by extreme violence, with victims often murdered by neighbors, and widespread sexual violence, with between 250,000 and 500,000 women raped.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Rusesabagina</span> Rwandan-Belgian humanitarian

Paul Rusesabagina is a Rwandan human rights activist. He worked as the manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, during a period in which it housed 1,268 Hutu and Tutsi refugees fleeing the Interahamwe militia during the Rwandan genocide. None of these refugees were hurt or killed during the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rwandan Civil War</span> 1990–1994 armed struggle in Rwanda

The Rwandan Civil War was a large-scale civil war in Rwanda which was fought between the Rwandan Armed Forces, representing the country's government, and the rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) from 1 October 1990 to 18 July 1994. The war arose from the long-running dispute between the Hutu and Tutsi groups within the Rwandan population. A 1959–1962 revolution had replaced the Tutsi monarchy with a Hutu-led republic, forcing more than 336,000 Tutsi to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. A group of these refugees in Uganda founded the RPF which, under the leadership of Fred Rwigyema and Paul Kagame, became a battle-ready army by the late 1980s.

<i>Sometimes in April</i> 2005 multi-national TV series or program

Sometimes in April is a 2005 American made-for-television historical drama film about the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, written and directed by the Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck. The ensemble cast includes Idris Elba, Oris Erhuero, Carole Karemera, and Debra Winger.

Simon Bikindi was a Rwandan musician and singer who was prominent in Rwanda during the 1980s and 1990s. His patriotic and ultranationalist songs were playlist staples on the national radio station Radio Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War. For his actions during the Rwandan genocide, he was tried and convicted for incitement to genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2008. He died of diabetes at a Beninese hospital in December 2018.

Georges Henri Yvon Joseph Ruggiu is a Belgian radio presenter who worked for Rwandan radio station Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, which played a significant role in promoting the genocide against the Tutsi. Like the station's other broadcasters, Ruggiu incited violence against Tutsi and moderate Hutu over the air. He had become involved in Rwandan politics just two years before the genocide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gitarama Province</span> Former province of Rwanda

Gitarama was one of the former twelve provinces (intara) of Rwanda and was situated in the centre of the country, to the west of the capital Kigali. Gitarama Prefecture was created in 1959, increasing the number of prefectures of Rwanda from eight to nine. In 2002, it was renamed a province, as were the other prefectures of Rwanda. It had an area of 2,187 square kilometres and a population of some 851,451 prior to its dissolution in January 2006. Gitarama was divided into 8 districts: Muhanga, Kayumbu, Kabagali, Ntenyo, Kamonyi, Ntongwe, Ndiza and Ruyumba; and two towns: Ruhango and Gitarama. Gitarama bordered the provinces Butare, Gikongoro, Kibuye, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Kigali-Ngali and Kigali City Tourist attractions included the Kamegeri rocks and the Busaga forest.

Ferdinand Nahimana is a Rwandan historian, who was convicted of incitement to genocide for his role in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Froduald Karamira</span> Rwandan politician and convicted war criminal

Froduald Karamira was a Rwandan politician who was found guilty of crimes in organising the implementation of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. He was sentenced to death by a Rwandan court and was one of the last 22 individuals executed by Rwanda, in April 1998. He was an ethnic Tutsi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human rights in Rwanda</span>

Human rights in Rwanda have been violated on a grand scale. The greatest violation is the Rwandan genocide of Tutsi in 1994. The post-genocide government is also responsible for grave violations of human rights.

Emmanuel Rukundo is a Rwandan Roman Catholic priest who, in 2009, was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for his participation in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gikongoro Province</span> Former province of Rwanda

Gikongoro Province was one of the former twelve provinces (intara) of Rwanda and is situated in the southwest of the country. The former province had an area of some 2,146 square kilometers. Its population was estimated at 466,451 (1990) and 511,776 (2002) prior to its dissolution in January 2006, with an annual growth rate of .810% between the years of 1990 and 2002. It included 13 "communes" and 125 sectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valérie Bemeriki</span> Rwandan journalist and convicted war criminal

Valérie Bemeriki is a Rwandan convicted war criminal and radio entertainer. Bemeriki was one of the main animatrices of Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which played a significant role in promoting the genocide against the Tutsi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kabgayi</span> Place in Southern Province, Rwanda

Kabgayi is located just south of Gitarama in Muhanga District, Southern Province, Rwanda, 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Kigali. It was established as a Catholic Church mission in 1905. It became the center for the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda and is the site of the oldest cathedral in the country and of Catholic seminaries, schools and a hospital. The church at first supported the Tutsi ruling elite, but later backed the Hutu majority. During the 1994 Rwandan genocide thousands of Tutsis who had taken refuge here were killed. Some survivors admire the courage of many priests who helped them during those difficult days, like Father Evergiste RUKEBESHA and many others. Later, some Hutus including three bishops and many priests were killed by the rebels RPF soldiers. A mass grave beside the hospital is marked by a memorial. Inside the Basilica are kept the bodies of the three bishops killed by FPR rebels. Two of them were refused by the Rwandan government to be transferred in their own cathedrals.

Marie Béatrice Umutesi is a Rwandan writer, NGO worker, peace activist and refugee living in Belgium.

Kizito Mihigo was a Rwandan gospel singer, songwriter, organist, composer of sacred music, television presenter, genocide survivor, peace maker and peace and reconciliation activist. Kizito was an iconic activist who dedicated his life to healing the souls of his fellow genocide survivors and rebuilding unity and reconciliation in Rwanda. According to Kisito's words, published on Kizitomihigo.com, he claimed, "The objective of my works is to console and strengthen the wounded hearts, singing peace and forgiveness." His ultimate performance in healing and Peacebuilding started in 2010 when he created the Kizito Mihigo Peace Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to his cause.

References

  1. ↑ "Watchdog hails Gacaca verdict". The New Times. 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Journaliste en danger (2007-02-14). "Journalists Dominique Makeli and Tatiana Mukakibibi imprisoned for over 10 years without trial". IFEX. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "Journalist freed after six years in prison". Reporters Without Borders. 2002-12-02. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  4. 1 2 3 "Journalist walks free after years in prison". Independent Online. 2007-11-13. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Rwanda: RSF report on press freedom". BBC Monitoring Media. 2001-11-09.
  6. 1 2 3 Reporters Without Borders (2005). "Reporters Without Borders Annual Report 2005 - Rwanda". Refworld. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  7. ↑ Reporters Without Borders (2008-02-13). "Annual Report 2008 - Rwanda". Refworld. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  8. ↑ "Radio reporter freed after being held for 14 years on genocide charge". Reporters Without Borders. 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  9. ↑ Greenslade, Roy (2007-11-16). "Journalist released after 11 years in jail". The Guardian. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  10. ↑ "Rwanda: Acquittal of a Journalist After 11 Years in Prison". Hirondelle News Agency (Lausanne). 2007-11-14.
  11. ↑ "International Women's Day concern about increasing violence against women journalists". Canada NewsWire. 2007-03-06.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.