The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has made a pivotal declaration concerning France’s involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, affirming that France and its allies “could have stopped” the genocide but “lacked the will to do so.”
Macron’s statement coincides with Rwanda’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the genocide.
In a forthcoming video set to be released on social media on Sunday, Macron candidly acknowledges France’s failure to take decisive action during one of Rwanda’s darkest periods.
He underscores that France, in conjunction with its Western and African counterparts, possessed the capability to intervene and prevent the genocide, but ultimately faltered due to a lack of resolve.
This admission represents a significant departure from France’s previous stance regarding its role in the genocide. Macron’s acknowledgment follows his historic visit to Rwanda in 2021, during which he acknowledged France’s “responsibility” in the genocide.
The genocide, which resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 individuals, predominantly targeted ethnic Tutsis and Hutus.
Melissa Enoch
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