{"id":190427,"date":"2021-05-29T10:22:45","date_gmt":"2021-05-29T08:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/rwanda-genocide-macron-forgiveness-plea-resets-historic-ties\/"},"modified":"2021-05-29T10:22:45","modified_gmt":"2021-05-29T08:22:45","slug":"rwanda-genocide-macron-forgiveness-plea-resets-historic-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/rwanda-genocide-macron-forgiveness-plea-resets-historic-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda genocide: Macron forgiveness plea resets historic ties"},"content":{"rendered":"
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French president Emmanuel Macron has just paid his first state visit to Rwanda<\/a>. While many world leaders have visited the central African nation of 13 million, including past French presidents, such as President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2010<\/a>, this trip was going to be different. <\/p>\n

Sure enough president Macron would come the closest to apologising<\/a> for France\u2019s involvement during the 1994 genocide<\/a> against the Tutsis.<\/p>\n

At the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Macron asked<\/a> for forgiveness for France\u2019s involvement in the genocide. He also expressed his desire to combat genocide ideology and denial in order to foster stronger relations with Rwanda. <\/p>\n

The long-term impact of this trip will be based on building on this commitment. France\u2019s tangible foreign policy mechanism will be committing itself to helping Rwanda through foreign aid development funding and COVID-19 vaccines. However, for France to gain the trust of Rwandans, the country has to commit itself to combatting genocide ideology and denial. A great start would be the arrest and extradition of Rwandans who participated in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.<\/p>\n

The history<\/h2>\n

Prior to the genocide, France was Rwanda\u2019s closest European ally. It was never the colonising power. Rwanda was colonised by Germany<\/a> (1884-1919) and later transferred to Belgium. It was during the Belgian colonial period<\/a> (1919-1962) that socio-economic divisions of Hutu, Tutsi and Twa become immovable ethnic divisions. To justify Belgium\u2019s colonial atrocities<\/a>, the colonial government elevated some Tutsi elites into positions of power to illustrate local rule. <\/p>\n

In a 1973 coup, Juv\u00e9nal Habyarimana took<\/a> the presidency. He<\/a> developed a close personal relationship<\/a> with French president Fran\u00e7ois Mitterrand (1981-1995). <\/p>\n

France under Mitterrand provided the Habyarimana regime with considerable financial and military support. Mitterrand\u2019s backing helped create a sense of legitimacy for his Rwandan counterpart. This in turn aided the policies of ethnic divisionism<\/a>, hatred and pogroms that would eventually result in the 1994 genocide.<\/p>\n

Since then, Rwandan-French relations have been poor at best. Many within the Rwandan government, led by the Rwanda Patriotic Front, denounced<\/a> France\u2019s closeness to Habyarimana as unacceptable. Rwanda also demanded an acknowledgement of French involvement in the 1994 genocide. Unfortunately, this did not happen under the next French president Jacques Chirac<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Subsequently, president Sarkozy<\/a> attempted to foster greater relations with Rwanda. He came close to admitting France\u2019s role during the genocide, but blamed \u201cpolitical errors\u201d for the country\u2019s actions. Relations deteriorated again under president Fran\u00e7ois Hollande<\/a> who minimised France\u2019s involvement prior to and during the genocide. <\/p>\n

Now, however, Macron has gone beyond Sarkozy\u2019s tentative steps. <\/p>\n

How relations went south<\/h2>\n

As Cold War declined in the early 1990s, France began to apply pressure<\/a> on its African allies \u2013 such as Habyarimana \u2013 to democratise. In Rwanda, however, the transition from dictatorship to open political competition did not go well. Rather than peaceful mobilisation, the opening of political space helped Hutu ideological extremists loyal to Habyarimana to propagate the ideology of genocide against the Tutsis. <\/p>\n

At the same time, Rwandan exiles \u2014 mostly Tutsis \u2013 formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front<\/a> signalling the start of the Rwandan Civil War (1990-1994)<\/a> between government and well-organised rebels.<\/p>\n

France backed Habyarimana\u2019s regime by fighting back the first invasion by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (1990-1991). After this campaign, the French government provided its military assistance to rebuild Rwanda\u2019s military against the party. They also secretly supported a government-backed militia, the Interahamwe<\/a> (Those who fight together).<\/p>\n

The genocide began hours after the assassination<\/a> of Habyarimana. The presidential plane he was in was shot down by unknown assailants. <\/p>\n

France remained steadfastly behind the new genocide government. While not providing military equipment or troops, it pressured for the removal of the United Nation\u2019s peacekeeping force<\/a> in Rwanda. It also moved the Rwandan government\u2019s inner circle<\/a> of power out of Rwanda in the early days of the genocide.<\/p>\n

Later France was to send military troops under the UN-sanctioned Op\u00e9ration Turquoise<\/a>. The French government publicly stated their substantial contribution of nearly 2,500 soldiers would help stop the genocidal killings. However, it became a safe zone for genocide perpetrators to continue the massacres as well as to flee<\/a> into neighbouring Zaire.<\/p>\n

Goodwill gestures<\/h2>\n

The political fallout from the 1994 genocide will remain at the heart of relations between Rwanda and France for some time to come. But the signs are promising. A great first step was made in 2019 with the creation of the Duclert Commission<\/a> to investigate France\u2019s role in the genocide. <\/p>\n

The commission report expressed reasonable doubt as to whether the French government was fully aware of how its relationship with the Habyarimana regime and training of Interahamwe forces would lead to the genocide. It nevertheless acknowledged France\u2019s involvement in the events leading to the mass killings. <\/p>\n

The Rwandan government accepted<\/a> the report\u2019s findings and commented on how important this was to help restore trust between the two nations.<\/p>\n

Macron and current Rwandan president Paul Kagame recently met<\/a> in France. Macron publicly showed his desire for a friendship<\/a> with his Rwandan counterpart. <\/p>\n

During Macron\u2019s Rwanda state visit some significant agreements<\/a> were made between the two countries \u2013 for example<\/a> a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two nations\u2019 foreign ministers, financial support for development and for combating Covid-19.<\/p>\n

But the highlight for Rwandans was Macron\u2019s visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. While this might not appear to be a tangible benefit in foreign policy, it holds significant influence in Rwandan perceptions of France amid hesitation, scepticism and open hatred for France. <\/p>\n

For many Rwandans, France represents a period in their country\u2019s history that was filled with ethnic hatreds, instability and Habyarimana\u2019s dictatorship. Many still hold France responsible for aiding the destructive ideology of the genocide. <\/p>\n

It will take time for Rwandans, especially those who suffered or witnessed the genocide, to trust France again. Macron will be aware of these challenges and how French-Rwandan relations will require time, gestures of goodwill and actions addressing the past.<\/p>\n

Source: The Conversation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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