Emmanuel Macron in Rwanda: "words that have more value than excuses" for Paul Kagame
Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Kigali on May 27, 2021. REUTERS - JEAN BIZIMANA
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8 mins
Perilous exercise of the French Head of State, this Thursday, May 27, 2021 in the morning, traveling to Kigali.
"
By standing, with humility and respect, by your side, I come to recognize our responsibilities
", said the French president, while affirming that France had "
not been complicit
" in the genocide in Rwanda.
After the solemn speech at the memorial, the French and Rwandan presidents appeared for a press conference and Paul Kagame's reaction to those words was quick.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in Kigali
,
Laure Broulard
This reaction was eagerly awaited, it was ultimately very positive.
"
These words had more value than an apology, it was the truth,
" said Paul Kagame,
referring to the French president's speech
at the Gisozi memorial on Thursday morning.
The Rwandan president then returned at length to the importance of recognizing the truth in the complicated relationship between Rwanda and France, a relationship which has nevertheless gradually improved in recent years.
He also presented his French counterpart as a head of state “
seeking to renew and change his relationship with Africa.
"
“
A change for the better
”, according to Paul Kagame, who concluded: “
The relations between our two countries will never be conventional, for better or for worse, and we have chosen to make the best of it
.
"
After all these years of differences between these two countries, we will also remember the will of the two French and Rwandan heads of state to now look to the future.
The revival of cooperation between the two countries was at the center of their speeches: the investment of French industries in Rwanda, the return of the French Development Agency to the country and the reopening of a Francophone cultural center.
Appointment of a French Ambassador
Emmanuel Macron also announced that he had come with 100,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine that he gave to Rwanda as part of the Covax initiative.
Without forgetting the judicial cooperation between the two countries to prosecute the genocidaires still at large.
"
I want to believe that this rapprochement is irreversible,
" concluded Emmanuel Macron, who also announced the upcoming appointment of a French ambassador to Rwanda whose post has been vacant for six years, an appointment which will be returned to the approval of the authorities. Rwandan women, he said.
It was a powerful speech with special meaning.
Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
RFI
"
Dishonorable to the victims
"
Emmanuel Macron's speech obviously does not only arouse reactions from the authorities. The interim president of the Ibuka genocide survivors' association, Egide Nkuranga, said he was rather satisfied: “
It's a very nice speech for us because, first of all,
[the French president]
officially recognized the role. of France during the genocide, and after the genocide as well, he clearly mentioned it. So this is very positive. He responded to our request for justice, because he undertook to bring to justice the alleged genocidaires who are free in France. It's very positive for us. This is a step after the publication of Vincent Duclert's report. Something else
:
regarding the request for forgiveness, it is true that he did not say it directly as we expected.
He was expected to say it directly, officially, to apologize on behalf of France, on behalf of the French people.
He didn't do it like that, maybe for political reasons, but still he mentioned it.
So, this is something that we have welcomed
.
"
Egide Nkuranga, interim president of the Ibuka genocide survivors association
Jeanne Richard
Anger and disappointment on the other hand on the side of the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda. Emmanuel Macron has not made a real apology, or even asked for forgiveness, believes Alain Gauthier, its president. “
I am angry because we heard a speech full of compassion, full of good feelings towards the victims and survivors. But we expected an apology from France as other countries have done. Personally, I am terribly disappointed. And concerning forgiveness, he did not clearly say
"I ask forgiveness in the name of France to the victims"
. President Macron did not go beyond what the Duclert report said. He recognized the responsibilities, but was it necessary to come
to the Gisozi memorial in front of 250,000 bodies of victims?
to make these remarks
?
For me, that seems a bit dishonorable for the victims,
”says Alain Gauthier.
Alain Gauthier, president of the Civil Parties Collective for Rwanda
RFI
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Rwanda
France
Paul Kagame
Emmanuel Macron
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