French President Emmanuel Macron has made a significant acknowledgment regarding France’s involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. He stated that France and its allies “could have stopped” the genocide but “lacked the will to do so.” Macron’s remarks coincide with Rwanda’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the genocide.
In a forthcoming social media video, Macron admits France’s failure to take decisive action during one of Rwanda’s darkest periods. He acknowledges that France, along with its Western and African partners, had the capability to intervene and prevent the genocide but ultimately failed due to a lack of resolve.
This admission represents a notable change in France’s position on its role in the genocide. Macron’s acknowledgment follows his 2021 visit to Rwanda, during which he acknowledged France’s “responsibility” in the genocide. The genocide, which resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 people, primarily targeted ethnic Tutsis and Hutus.
