The Role of the International Community

 in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide

 

France

 

Operation Turquoise

In June 1994, France sent armed forces to Rwanda, authorized by the United Nations' Security Council Resolution 929. It was meant to be a short-term rescue mission to save Tutsi lives in south and southwestern Rwanda.

The troops created a "safe area" in territory controlled by the Hutu government. However, they were able to safe only 12,000 to 15,000 Tutsis.

The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) eventually captured Kigali and made the Hutu government flee to Zaire. The French troops left Rwanda in mid-July 1994.

  • More about France's role in Rwanda - Excerpted from Chapter 11 of Philip Gourevitch's book, "We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families". Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. Copyright 1998 by Philip Gourevitch.

 

Inquiry into France's Military Involvement in Rwanda before and during the Genocide

France was accused to have previously supported the Hutu-led government. Even during the Operation Turquoise, Hutu soldiers acclaimed the French troops.

A special French parliamentary commission conducted a nine-months study to examine military operations by France, other countries and the U.N. in Rwanda between 1990 and 1994.

The report acknowledged that France did some "error judgements", but placed the blame on the United Nations and the USA, absolving France of responsability in the genocide.

''This genocide was committed against Rwandans by Rwandans even if the United Nations was unable to prevent the violence from escalating because, following the failure of the operations in Somalia, the United States did not want to consider an immediate increase in UN forces,'' (socialist legislator Paul Quiles, head of mission)

Former French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur, after the release of the report, denied suggestions that France was to blame for the Rwandan genocide, calling them an attack on the his honor. "The French army has no responsibility" in the massacres, Balladur said.

 

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© WTN

French National Assembly

 

 

 

 

"In those countries, a genocide is not really important."

President Francois Mitterand

during Rwanda genocide