Kantano Habimana


Kantano Habimana, commonly referred to as Kantano, was a presenter on the Rwandan radio station RTLM, which played a significant role in promoting the genocide against the Tutsi. Like the station's other broadcasters, Habimana incited violence against Tutsi and moderate Hutu on the air.
Habimana is often named as both the most popular animateur of RTLM and the animateur with by far the most airtime, his segments having accounted for approximately 33% of the station’s broadcast content. Habimana was known for visiting roadblocks on-air and interviewing the Interahamwe militia present in order to interact with his listeners first-hand. Habimana routinely announced exact whereabouts, names and license plate numbers of alleged RPF accomplices, inciting targeted violence and often murder on the named individuals by groups such as the Impuzamugambi and Interahamwe militias.
At a pre-genocide court hearing on March 15, 1994, for "the incitement of citizens against each other", Habimana described RTLM broadcasters as "small fish" compared to RTLM executives such as Ferdinand Nahimana.
Habimana allegedly died of AIDS in the Democratic Republic of Congo before 2002.