On Thursday, April 4, 2024, an announcement from the Élysée sparked significant media coverage, setting the stage for President Emmanuel Macron’s address on the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Initially, a presidential adviser suggested that Macron would make a groundbreaking statement in a video, claiming France, along with its Western and African allies, could have stopped the genocide but lacked the will to do so. This revelation was widely reported by the media following its release by AFP.
However, the anticipated statement was conspicuously absent in the video that was broadcast on Sunday. Instead, President Macron reiterated his 2021 stance delivered in Kigali, where he acknowledged France’s responsibilities in the 1994 massacres but did not extend beyond that acknowledgment. This discrepancy led to a clarification from the Élysée’s press adviser, who admitted to a possible miscommunication leading to widespread misinterpretation.
The confusion did not end there. On Monday, April 8, the François-Mitterrand Institute voiced its concerns, urging President Macron to clarify his position. The institute highlighted what it described as “hazardous communication” from the Élysée regarding France’s role in the 1994 genocide. It pressed for a clear stance in response to the earlier statement that suggested a potential for French intervention during the genocide, a statement that the president did not echo in his latest address.
During the commemorations, which marked 30 years since the genocide, President Macron affirmed his adherence to his 2021 speech, wherein he accepted France’s role but did not suggest any further responsibility. His reaffirmation came amid criticisms and calls for clarity from figures like Jean Glavany, a former socialist minister and current head of the François-Mitterrand Institute.
Adding to the geopolitical complexity, Rwandan President Paul Kagame remarked on the international community’s failure to intervene during the genocide, hinting at a broader narrative of neglect and missed opportunities, which continues to stir debates and political tensions.
The Institut François-Mitterrand also posed pointed questions, seeking to challenge the French narrative and inquire about possible actions that could have been taken, highlighting the humanitarian efforts by former leaders François Mitterrand and Edouard Balladur, and diplomatic attempts by Alain Juppé in mid-1994.
In response to these controversies and to avoid any further misunderstandings, the Élysée contacted AFP on Monday, asserting that President Macron’s position remains consistent with his 2021 speech, without any advancement in the narrative. This stance appears to maintain a delicate balance, acknowledging historical responsibilities while refraining from fully endorsing the more controversial claims of potential intervention by France.
