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

Lanxade, Jacques

11 octobre 1990

19901011

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

(sous-couvert de Monsieur le Secrétaire général)

Lanxade19901011.pdf

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Présidence de la République (fr)

FM

Note

FR

The attack of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) on October 1st 1990 appears to the French as a new attempt by the Tutsi to return before the revolution of 1959 which chased them away. Consequently, the enemy of France in Rwanda is the Tutsi, as this note of October 11, 1990 from Admiral Lanxade, military adviser of the President of the Republic, shows here speaking Republic, speaking of " Tutsi forces " and " Tutsi push ". He could have said RPF forces, rebel forces or Ugandan forces. No, he uses the Tutsi forces expression, thus giving this war a racial character.
Informed of a massacre campaign against Tutsis inside the country, in the Kibilira region which begins precisely on October 11, Admiral Lanxade, proposes to the President of the Republic a partial withdrawal of French troops so as not to appear too involved in atrocities. So, for the Élysée Palace, from October 1990 France fought in Rwanda against the Tutsi whether they came from Uganda or whether they lived in Rwanda and whether they were armed or not. As this enemy is defined by an ethnic or racial affiliation and as in this war all the prisoners are exterminated, as attested by General Quesnot and Colonel Tauzin, France is engaged from this time in a genocidal process. His only concern is not to appear compromised.