Revisiting France’s Role in Rwanda’s Genocide

[Disir]

With some 800,000 people killed in 100 days, the 1994 Rwandan genocide was one of the bloodiest events of the 20th century. Twenty-two years later, the incident that sparked the mass slaughter—the shooting down of a plane carrying the then president of Rwanda, Juvénal Habyarimana—remains a mystery, with opposing sides trading accusations of liability.

France’s role in the massacre has long been scrutinized—the country has repeatedly dismissed accusations that it trained militias from the majority Hutu ethnicity to take part in the massacres, which were directed against people from the Tutsi minority and moderate Hutus. Now, much to the chagrin of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, France is reopening an investigation into the assassination of Habyarimana. Kagame has warned of a “showdown” with France, including the prospect of freezing diplomatic relations.
France and Rwanda head for “showdown” over genocide investigation

An intentional tactic. This wasn't supposed to happen again.

 

[Onyx]

The biggest contribution France had on the genocide was having its army block essential roads between Kigali and Rwanda during the genocide.

This kept Tutsi refugees stuck behind government lines, and the Rwandan Patriotic Front having to disadvantage themselves strategically by diverting around the French checkpoints.