Faustin Rucogoza (died 7 April 1994) was a

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

n politician and the Minister of Information in the Broad-Based Transitional Government between late 1993 and April 1994. He was killed at the beginning of the

Rwandan genocide The Rwandan genocide occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994 during the Rwandan Civil War. During this period of around 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa, were killed by armed Hutu ...

. He was a

Hutu The Hutu (), also known as the Abahutu, are a Bantu ethnic or social group which is native to the African Great Lakes region. They mainly live in Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they form one of the prin ...

. In November 1993 and again on 10 February 1994, Rucogoza issued warnings to the extremist radio station RTLM against broadcasting material that could incite

ethnic hatred Ethnic hatred, inter-ethnic hatred, racial hatred, or ethnic tension refers to notions and acts of prejudice and hostility towards an ethnic group in varying degrees. There are multiple origins for ethnic hatred and the resulting ethnic conflic ...

. These followed similar sentiments expressed by Prime Minister

Agathe Uwilingiyimana Agathe Uwilingiyimana (; 23 May 1953 – 7 April 1994), sometimes known as Madame Agathe, was a Rwandan political figure. She served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 18 July 1993 until her assassination on 7 April 1994, during the opening stage ...

in November 1993.Africa 2001
''Committee to Protect Journalists''. On 6 April, one day before the genocide began, Rucogoza and his wife were taken into custody by the army and detained in the camp of the Presidential Guard. On the morning of 7 April, the commander of the Guard, Major

Protais Mpiranya Protais Mpiranya (30 May 1956 – 5 October 2006) also known as Sambao Ndume, was a Rwandan war criminal who was internationally wanted for his alleged role in the Rwandan genocide. Regarded as Rwanda's most wanted fugitive, he was described in ...

, was told that Rucogoza and his wife were in the camp. He allegedly responded by asking his soldiers why they were keeping them. Shortly afterwards, both were killed.Indictment against Protais Mpiranya
from the ICTR.

References

1994 deaths People who died in the Rwandan genocide Rwandan murder victims Government ministers of Rwanda Year of birth missing {{Rwanda-politician-stub