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France Admits Failing Rwanda

Sarkozy: Genocide was 'defeat for humanity'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 26, 2010 4:00 AM CST

(Newser) – France made serious errors that contributed to the Rwandan genocide that killed 800,000 people in 1994, President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday. Sarkozy, on a visit to the African nation to build closer ties, stopped short of formally apologizing or addressing accusations that France helped train the Hutu militias that slaughtered Tutsis, the Independent reports.

"What happened here is a defeat for humanity," said Sarkozy, the first French leader to visit Rwanda since the genocide. "What happened here left an indelible stain. What happened here obliges the international community—including France—to reflect on the errors which prevented us from foreseeing, or stopping, this appalling crime." He vowed that France would track down and punish the estimated 100 militia leaders who fled to France after the genocide.
Skulls and bones from some of the estimated 10,000 Tutsis killed in a two-day massacre at Nyamata church during the 1994 genocide are displayed in a crypt behind the church.
Skulls and bones from some of the estimated 10,000 Tutsis killed in a two-day massacre at Nyamata church during the 1994 genocide are displayed in a crypt behind the church.   (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A wooden cross lies among clothes from some of the estimated 10,000 Tutsis killed in a two-day massacre at Nyamata church, now a memorial to the 1994 genocide,.
A wooden cross lies among clothes from some of the estimated 10,000 Tutsis killed in a two-day massacre at Nyamata church, now a memorial to the 1994 genocide,.   (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
A Rwandan survivor of the 1994 genocide prays over the bones of genocide victims at a mass grave in Nyamata, Rwanda.
A Rwandan survivor of the 1994 genocide prays over the bones of genocide victims at a mass grave in Nyamata, Rwanda.   (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim, file)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits the Memorial of the Rwandan Genocide in Kigali, Rwanada yesterday.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy visits the Memorial of the Rwandan Genocide in Kigali, Rwanada yesterday.   (AP Photo/Philippe Wojazer, Pool)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
alkaseltzersammich
Feb 26, 2010 4:15 PM CST
He's the first leader from France to visit since 1994? That's pretty fucked up.
EddyTeach
Feb 26, 2010 1:32 PM CST
The United States should apologize for inaction as well. We refused to aid Rwanda when genocide, mass rape and a myriad of other atrocities were carried out. The very least we could have done was to jam the radio broadcasts within the country that organized the killing squads and spewed propagandist rhetoric. We refused, citing that it was "outside our military capability" to jam a radio broadcast.
BackAgain
Feb 26, 2010 1:19 PM CST
No kidding. Do nothing France admits to doing nothing. Shut up froggy.

 
genocide • Nicolas Sarkozy • France • Rwanda • Hutu • Tutsi • Paul Kagame

 
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