Europe

French President Emmanuel Macron Receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris on May 17, 2021

On May 26-27, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Rwanda. During the visit, questions were raised on why the sudden visit to Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame, after more than 25 years of overt diplomatic and economic conflicts. Then AfroAmerica Network sources close to the Rwandan and Mozambican governments provided some information on the reason behind the rapprochement: the on-going civil war in Mozambique. After the visit, Rwandan troops, in which French troops are allegedy embedded, deployed into Mozambique (see: France-Rwanda-Mozambique: Paul Kagame Deploys Troops to Mozambique Following Visit by French President Emmanuel Macron). However there is more. As one of the favors for his help in Mozambique, Paul Kagame transmitted a list of people living in France and wanted by the Rwandan government.  The list, viewed by AfroAmerica Network sources close to Paul Kagame's high office,  is complex and includes three virtual groups: the known names of those under prosecution in French courts and hence expected,  unexpected names of those accused of various crimes, and misleading names.

French President Emmanuel Macron Receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris on May 17, 2021

On May 26-27, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Rwanda. During the visit,  Emmanuel Macron said that France bore overwhelming responsibilities  in 1990-1994 Rwandan civil war.  Falling short of fully admitting responsiblities, questions were raised on why the sudden visit to Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame, after more than 25 years of overt diplomatic and economic conflicts.   Hence a lingering question remained: why the sudden drive to improve the diplomatic relations after so many years of conflict? AfroAmerica Network sources close to the Rwandan and Mozambican governments have provided some information on the reason behind the rapprochement:  the on-going civil war in Mozambique.

French President Emmanuel Macron Receives Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris on May 17, 2021

On May 18, 2021, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a France-Africa Economic Summit and  International Conference on Sudan in Paris, France. Several African heads of state attended, including Rwandan dictator General Paul Kagame.  In preparation for the summit, Rwanda and France  have been working to  renew  diplomatic ties, after years of diplomatic conflicts, with the governments of the two countries  blaming each other for the 1990s Rwandan  ethnic massacres, genocides,  and civil wars.   On the sidelines,Rwandan Dictator Paul Kagame  told the French media why he holds the grip on his country,  and why no one has the right to criticize him for appaulling human rights violations, including systematic massacres and invasions and looting of other countries. He specifically warned the United States of America and the European Union, to stay away from criticising his government.