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Last update :
July 7, 2026
July 7, 2026
La France annonce son intention d'arrêter tout dirigeant rwandais qui tomberait aux mains des soldats français
Card Number 36375
Number
36375
Author
Leclerc, Gilles
Author
Peaster, Philippe
Date
15 juillet 1994
Ymd
19940715
Time
19:30:00
Time zone
CEST
Uptitle
Journal de 19 heures 30
Title
La France annonce son intention d'arrêter tout dirigeant rwandais qui tomberait aux mains des soldats français
Subtitle
Plusieurs centaines de milliers de réfugiés fuient devant la progression du FPR.
Size
22380 bytes
Pages nb.
2
Source
Public records
Type
Transcription d'une émission de télévision
Language
FR
Abstract
- Abroad, the situation in Rwanda is becoming increasingly critical: on the ground, near the Zaire border, hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing the advance of the RPF.
- The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) confirms this evening that 250,000 refugees have arrived in the east of the country and that another 600,000 are expected in the coming days.
- Hot on the heels of the fighting come tens of thousands of refugees—mostly Hutus. Civilians are mixed with the stragglers of a routed army; all are fleeing the inexorable advance of the RPF.
- On Wednesday [July 13], the Tutsis of the Rwandan Patriotic Front captured Ruhengeri, the last stronghold held by troops loyal to the former regime. Since then, a human tide has been surging toward the Zaire border.
- For the moment, the end of the road—and salvation—lies in Goma, across the border in Zaire. Goma is where they have been crowding together since yesterday morning [July 14] with their meager belongings—or at least, according to eyewitness accounts, with whatever managed to escape the greed of Zairian gendarmes and other looters.
- Goma is in a state of total chaos and is completely overwhelmed. Humanitarian organizations are stretched to the limit. Samantha Bolton of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says: "In a single day, the situation has become catastrophic. This morning, there was no one here. Now there are 250,000. Tomorrow [July 16], there will be nearly a million—an influx of 600 arrivals per minute".
- Food supplies will last only a few days. And dysentery already looms as a threat.
- Militarily, despite the UN's call for a ceasefire, the RPF is threatening Gisenyi, the seat of the last Hutu government. Gisenyi has been abandoned by ministers; they reportedly fled toward the French-controlled security zone.
- This information has not yet been confirmed by Paris. In any case, France, seeking to avoid criticism, has announced its intention to arrest any Rwandan leader who falls into the hands of French soldiers.
- France, therefore, appears to be staying the course by focusing on humanitarian aid for refugees. Meanwhile, the UN is calling for an immediate ceasefire on the ground.
- We have also learned this evening that Washington has decided to withdraw recognition of Rwanda's current government.
- And just in: France has confirmed the presence of Rwandan government members, including the President of Rwanda, within the security zone it controls and protects.
- Edouard Balladur did raise the issue of Rwanda today at the European Council meeting in Brussels; however, the Twelve were primarily concerned with finding a successor to Jacques Delors.
- The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) confirms this evening that 250,000 refugees have arrived in the east of the country and that another 600,000 are expected in the coming days.
- Hot on the heels of the fighting come tens of thousands of refugees—mostly Hutus. Civilians are mixed with the stragglers of a routed army; all are fleeing the inexorable advance of the RPF.
- On Wednesday [July 13], the Tutsis of the Rwandan Patriotic Front captured Ruhengeri, the last stronghold held by troops loyal to the former regime. Since then, a human tide has been surging toward the Zaire border.
- For the moment, the end of the road—and salvation—lies in Goma, across the border in Zaire. Goma is where they have been crowding together since yesterday morning [July 14] with their meager belongings—or at least, according to eyewitness accounts, with whatever managed to escape the greed of Zairian gendarmes and other looters.
- Goma is in a state of total chaos and is completely overwhelmed. Humanitarian organizations are stretched to the limit. Samantha Bolton of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says: "In a single day, the situation has become catastrophic. This morning, there was no one here. Now there are 250,000. Tomorrow [July 16], there will be nearly a million—an influx of 600 arrivals per minute".
- Food supplies will last only a few days. And dysentery already looms as a threat.
- Militarily, despite the UN's call for a ceasefire, the RPF is threatening Gisenyi, the seat of the last Hutu government. Gisenyi has been abandoned by ministers; they reportedly fled toward the French-controlled security zone.
- This information has not yet been confirmed by Paris. In any case, France, seeking to avoid criticism, has announced its intention to arrest any Rwandan leader who falls into the hands of French soldiers.
- France, therefore, appears to be staying the course by focusing on humanitarian aid for refugees. Meanwhile, the UN is calling for an immediate ceasefire on the ground.
- We have also learned this evening that Washington has decided to withdraw recognition of Rwanda's current government.
- And just in: France has confirmed the presence of Rwandan government members, including the President of Rwanda, within the security zone it controls and protects.
- Edouard Balladur did raise the issue of Rwanda today at the European Council meeting in Brussels; however, the Twelve were primarily concerned with finding a successor to Jacques Delors.