| Intro | Rwandan convicted of genocide |
| Is | Radio personality |
| From | Rwanda |
| Type | Film, TV, Stage & Radio |
| Gender | male |
Kantano Habimana, commonly referred to as Kantano, was a presenter (animateur) on the Rwandan radio station Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, which played a significant role in promoting the Rwandan Genocide. 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. Segments by Habimana accounted for approximately 33% of RTLM airtime. Habimana (and RTLM) 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.