The Rwandan Head of State, Paul Kagame, welcomed the Declert report during the commemoration ceremony of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
For the 27th time, Rwanda organized a commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi, on 7 April 2021. President Paul Kagame returned to the report of the research commission on the French archives relating to Rwanda and the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi (1990-1994).
“We welcome this report because it marks an important step towards a common understanding of what happened,” said Paul Kagame. “It also marks a change, it shows the desire, even for leaders in France, to move forward with a good understanding of what happened, and we welcome that,” he added.
This is a promise that the French Head of State, Emmanuel Macron, had made in 2018 when he had just received the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame at the Elysée.
France, which obviously has the will to move forward in the resolution of the dispute with Rwanda, intends to present this report also to the Rwandan side.
“The report will be presented to us; I have been informed. This is a good thing. Rwanda will also have its say in the near future,” Paul Kagame revealed.
The report confirms that President François Mitterrand and his closest advisers knew that a genocide against the Tutsi was being prepared in Rwanda. Despite this knowledge, the president decided to continue supporting them. “He thought it was necessary for France’s geopolitical position,” said Paul Kagame. “The lives of Rwandans were just pawns in geopolitical games,” Kagame added.
The day of April 7 was also marked by the laying of a wreath at the Gisozi memorial site. President Paul Kagame accompanied by the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame, bowed to the victims massacred in Kigali.
They also lit the flame of hope to solemnly launch the commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi.
Gérard Rugambwa
