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Latest update: 29/11/2009
- diplomacy - France - Rwanda
France and Rwanda restore diplomatic relations
France and Rwanda have agreed to re-open diplomatic relations severed in 2006 after a French judge issued arrest warrants for senior Rwandan officials, including President Paul Kagame, in connection with the country's 1994 genocide.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - France and Rwanda plan to restore diplomatic ties cut in 2006 when Paris issued arrest warrants for aides to President Paul Kagame over the genocide in the African state, French officials said Sunday.
President Nicolas Sarkozy's chief of staff Claude Gueant met Sunday with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali and after that meeting the two leaders decided to restore relations, Sarkozy's office said in a statement.
Ties between the two countries have been strained since the 1994 genocide, owing to Kigali's accusation that French forces trained extremist Hutu militia that carried out the killings.
Paris has repeatedly denied the charge.
Rwanda broke off relations after a French investigating judge issued arrest warrants for nine Rwandans suspected of plotting the downing of president Juvenal Habyarimana's plane in April 1994.
That event sparked the violence that led to the slaughter of more than 500,000 people, mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, in less than 100 days.
Kigali has repeatedly accused France of having evacuated or facilitated the departure from Rwanda of high-ranking figures implicated in the genocide.
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(8) Reactions
French ties
I'm happy with President Sarkozy's visit, but I would like to ask the media community not to undermine the number of people killed during the genocide. It's 500,000 as said by France24 but more than a million.
Henry
Mirc Mirc indir Sohbet
Rwandan
All those anonymous comments full of praise for the worst genocidal regime in the world! Do they ignore 80% of the population does not speak the official language of their newborn country? Small change in comparison to the massacres they underwent at the hands of both the "genocidaires" and Kagame's "liberation" army.
Re-instating relationship btn France and Rwanda
Rwanda as a visionary growing state in Africa wants it's problems solved on around table . that is demonstrating the role of each in to day's world thinking, not the early believe of sitting and waiting the decision taken from super powers who have a global say around the planet.this is now total different from tinny African state.
France/Rwanda relations
Good to see that Rwanda and France have finally come to their senses and agreed to restore diplomatic relations. History has shown that animosity between countries does not solve anything but on the contrary it brings misery to the citizens of the countries. The new relations should now be based on respect. I congratulate the leaders of the two nations for ironing out the differences of the countries.
RWANDA HAS ALSO JONED THE COMMON WEALTH
RWANDA IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE COMMON WEALTH. THE COMMON WEALTH IS MADE UP OF FORMER BRITISH COLONIES,and RWANDA WAS A FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES UNTIL THE REALATIONS BTN RWANDA AND FRANCE WERE SEVERED. NGLISH IS NOW THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.
thats very true
the french are very deceptive when it comes to their role in Africa, Africa can grow without them after all their business is give 20 and collect 80, its too bad, but its the reality
why
France should stop its policies in Africa.Are they worried the African country is fast moving towards anglo saxon culture,France better change to speak English , french culture is dying because its full of self centrednes