Georges Ruggiu
Belgian journalist and convicted war criminal / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Georges Henri Yvon Joseph Ruggiu (born 12 October 1957) 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.[1] 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.
Georges Ruggiu | |
---|---|
Born | Georges Henri Yvon Joseph Ruggiu (1957-10-12) 12 October 1957 (age 66) |
Other names | "Omar" (after conversion to Islam) |
Occupation(s) | Radio presenter (animateur), journalist |
Criminal status | Released |
Conviction(s) | Incitement to genocide |
Criminal penalty | 12 years imprisonment |
Commonly referred to as "the Muzuungu" ("white man"), Ruggiu did not speak Kinyarwanda and his segments were tailored to appeal to educated French speakers in the political and military leadership classes, not the general public. Per one study, Ruggiu would "leverage his Europeanness for credibility" during his broadcasts, and played classical music and recited Niccolò Machiavelli quotes on air.[2]
Ruggiu eventually pleaded guilty to charges of incitement to commit genocide and in 2000 was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Ruggiu was the only non-Rwandan charged with involvement in the genocide. He was released from prison in 2009.[3][4][5]