Political leaders must take responsibility for confronting hateful narratives rather than exploiting identity, fear and historical grievances for political gain, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amb Martin Ngoga, said. Ngoga made the remarks on Thursday, September 17, during the UN Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech in New York. ALSO READ: Five-year plan proposed to combat hate speech The conference brought together UN officials and other stakeholders to discuss ways of addressing hate speech through dialogue and tolerance. It was organised by Morroco's mission, the UN Office for Genocide Prevention and the United Nations Alliance for Civilisations. Ngoga said leaders have a decisive role in shaping how societies respond to hate speech, warning that their failure to challenge such narratives can allow division to take root. “When they use identity, fear, or historical grievances to mobilise political support, they give those narratives legitimacy,” he said. ALSO READ: Rwanda proposes regional front against hate speech, impunity The remarks also came as hate speech continues to affect the Great Lakes Region, particularly in DR Congo, where hateful rhetoric is delivered openly by leaders and civilians with limited consequences for those responsible, including on national television. This rhetoric has widely affected Tutsi communities in eastern DR Congo, particularly the Banyamulenge, who have faced ethnically motivated attacks and persecution. ALSO READ: Outcry as DR Congo army spokesman spreads anti-Tutsi tropes The Rwandan diplomat said the spread of hateful narratives has been accelerated by social media and artificial intelligence, but technology alone does not explain the problem. “We must confront the root causes, including political manipulation, irresponsible governance, and exploitation of identity and grievances for political gain,” Ngoga said. He argued that preventing hate speech requires political courage, particularly from leaders who may benefit from divisions within society. “Preventing hate speech, therefore, requires more than good policies. It requires responsible leadership and political courage not to benefit from division,” he said. ALSO READ: Hate speech is a seed of unending conflict – Rwandan envoy Ngoga said Rwanda’s experience of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi demonstrates the consequences of allowing hatred and dehumanisation to become normalised. He recalled that, in the years preceding the Genocide, discrimination and dehumanisation were progressively normalised, while propaganda was used to prepare the ground for violence. “Radio and newspaper were later used to incite and mobilise people to kill,” he said, noting that more than one million people were killed in 100 days as a result. ALSO READ: ‘Genocide can happen anywhere,’ Nduhungirehe on dangers of hate speech “Prevention means acting before hatred becomes acceptable and before words translate into violence,” he said. He identified three areas that require particular attention, starting with early recognition of warning signs. These include the normalisation of dehumanising language, political manipulation of identity and the systematic targeting of communities through misinformation. Ngoga also called for dialogue to be accompanied by accountability, arguing that those who incite hatred should not be rewarded or legitimised. “We cannot condemn hate speech internationally while tolerating or benefiting from it politically at home,” he said. ALSO READ: Officials warn against hate speech amidst Rwanda-DR Congo tensions He further urged governments and other actors to keep prevention efforts in step with technological change, including hate expressed through local languages and coded narratives that automated systems may fail to detect. Ngoga said Rwanda’s experience should reinforce the need to act when people are targeted because of their identity, language, beliefs or appearance. “Silence for political convenience cannot be an option,” he said. “Prevention requires courage, political responsibility, and accountability, and above all, the will to act before words become violence.”
