Rwanda opens criminal inquiry into France’s role in genocide

NAN-F-10

Genocide
Kigali, Nov. 30, 2016 (dpa/ NAN) Rwanda has opened a criminal inquiry into 20 French officials suspected of playing a role in the east African country’s 1994 genocide, which left 800,000 people dead, Prosecutor General Richard Muhumuza said.

President Paul Kagame’s government has accused the French of helping to mastermind and execute the killing of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus by members of the Hutu-led government.

“The inquiry, for now, is focused on 20 individuals who are required by the Prosecution Authority to explain or provide clarity on allegations against them,” Muhumuza said in a statement late Tuesday.

He said the authority would then decide whether those individuals would be formally charged.

Later on, “other French government agents and officials might be required to similarly assist the Kigali Prosecution Authority,” the statement added.

France has been accused of ignoring the warning signs of the genocide, and of training soldiers and militiamen who participated in the killings.

However, France did send troops to Rwanda late on in the genocide, but they have been accused of allowing genocidal Hutus to escape to neighbouring Congo.

Muhumuza said the relevant French government authorities had been formally engaged.

“The office of the prosecutor general expects that reciprocal judicial cooperation will be availed throughout this inquiry by the relevant French government agencies and authorities,” the statement added. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)