The Akazu and the Machinery of Hate: How Power Fueled Rwanda’s Darkest Hour

Behind the scenes of Rwanda’s political landscape was a secretive and powerful inner circle known as the Akazu, centered around the president’s wife and her family. This group wielded immense influence over the military, government, and economy, operating like a shadow government.

Using state-controlled media, the Akazu orchestrated a campaign of hate propaganda. Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) and the Kangura newspaper relentlessly demonized the Tutsi minority, spreading racist ideology and inciting violence. These outlets became instruments of genocide, mobilizing ordinary citizens into killers.

The Interahamwe militia, initially youth groups affiliated with the ruling party, were trained and armed by the government, transforming into a brutal killing force. Training camps dotted the countryside, where young men learned to use machetes and firearms with deadly efficiency.

Intelligence reports warned of the Akazu’s plans to exterminate the Tutsi population. Despite these warnings, the international community largely failed to act. This chapter reveals how concentrated power, propaganda, and militarization combined to create a machinery of death.

For further reading on political corruption and media’s role in genocide, consult investigative reports and academic analyses 3 , 2 .