Note à l'attention de Monsieur le Président de la République. Objet : Rwanda - Point de situation

Quesnot, Christian

20 juin 1991

19910620

Note à l'attention de Monsieur le Président de la République. Objet : Rwanda - Point de situation

Quesnot20juin1991.pdf

79694 bytes

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Présidence de la République (fr)

FM

Note

FR

For General Quesnot, the permanent presence of the French company in Kigali is no longer justified militarily. On the other hand, if the Rwandan authorities request it, the maintenance of the DAMI remains desirable for some time. But Mitterrand refuses: "No, do not withdraw our troops yet. Tell me about it".

While François Mitterrand had declared that French troops had only been sent to Rwanda to protect our nationals, twice, in January and April 1991, his particular chief of staff suggested to him to withdraw these troops, but the President opposed it. Again, on June 20, General Quesnot encouraged him to withdraw a company leaving the DAMI. But Mitterrand refuses as his handwritten note shows. This document proves that Mitterrand remains the master of politics in Rwanda and that he does not allow his decisions to be dictated by his advisers, be they military. These troops will only be withdrawn in execution of the Arusha peace accords around December 15, 1993, at least officially. This withdrawal to make way for peacekeepers, including Belgians, will be experienced as a new Dien-Bien-Phu by certain senior French officers.