Rwanda and
the Desperation of France
There is ample evidence of French culpability in the 1994
genocide in Rwanda. Yet, France acts as a model guardian of
human values on the pretext that the exercise of France’s civilising
mission has sometimes compelled it to discipline recalcitrant
natives for their own good.
VINAY LAL by France in the genocide which took some
8,00,000 lives in Rwanda in 1994 and was
F
rance is at it again, posing as a triggered by Habyarimana’s death. Those
model guardian of human values killings of that cruel spring saw the Hutus
and purporting to set for the world pounce upon the Tutsis, gleefully
more stringent standards of culpability characterised on radio broadcasts as cock-
for genocide and other grave crimes com- roaches, with dreadful ferocity while the
mitted against humanity. First, in February world, fully aware of the scale of the
2005, the French national assembly passed massacre, simply looked on. Many schol-
a bill, which requires school children to ars have commented on the particularities
be taught the “positive” role of the French of the Rwandan genocide: far from being
overseas, “notably in north Africa”. Then, the outcome of a highly bureaucratic
in October 2006, the assembly approved machinery of death, it saw neighbours
the legislation – now awaiting approval pitted against neighbours, friends turning
from the senate – which would make it a upon friends. The victims were not herded
criminal offence to deny that a genocide into distant camps, nor did the killers,
of Armenians took place under the Otto- wielding mainly machetes, axes, and
man Turks from 1915-17. Though the spears, hide under the cloak of anonymity.
French have committed countless atroci- The genocide lasted a mere four months,
ties in Haiti, Africa, Indochina, Algeria, and large segments of state and civil
and elsewhere, all of that is overlooked on society partook of the killing. And,
the pretext that the exercise of France’s keeping in mind the present dispute
civilising mission has sometimes compelled between France and Rwanda, the French
it to discipline recalcitrant natives for their were charged with having been deeply
own good. Now the target of the French implicated, not obviously as outright
is Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda, and perpetrators, in the killings.
nine other Rwandan officials, all of whom Rwanda occupies a somewhat anoma-
stand accused by a French judge, Jean- lous place in “La Francafrique”, or what
Louis Bruguiere, of having planned and we might call the French Imperium in
executed the assassination, on April 6, Africa. Rwanda was never a French colony,
1994, of then-Rwandan president, Juvenal ruled instead by the Belgians; its educated
Habyarimana. classes and élites were French-speaking
and, upon independence in 1962, were
French Imperium and Genocide further drawn into the French cultural orbit.
The social revolution of 1959, which also
However, if it sounds as though the witnessed the first large-scale systematic
French are showing exemplary courage, violence between the Hutus and Tutsis, led
performing a noble duty from which other to the erosion of Tutsi power at the local
nation states might perhaps shirk, issuing level and the migration of Tutsi élites into
to dictatorial and authoritarian leaders a exile. Though the independence agreement
stern warning that the long hand of the law called for power-sharing between the Hutus
will catch up to their evil misdeeds, then and Tutsis, which themselves are far from
one should consider that the French judge’s being iron-clad identities and only acquired
report comes on the heels of an official a certain rigidity in the colonial period, a
Rwandan inquiry – commenced last Hutu dictatorship was firmly established.
October and expected to be completed in Habyarimana, who engineered a coup and
the next few weeks – into the role played assumed power in 1973, was not only an
480 Economic and Political Weekly February 10, 2007
ardent advocate of Hutu power, but also sign of some larger shifts in contemporary been inclined to view Rwanda, a former
astute enough to recognise that he could culture and geopolitics? America lures Belgian colony, as a particularly endearing
lure France into supporting his dictator- people to its shore with the promise of the example of the attractions of French cul-
ship. France signed an agreement with “American Dream” and the possibility of ture to people who aspire to make some-
Rwanda in 1975 which forbids it from economic advancement, but more so than thing of themselves; and now Rwanda,
taking part in Rwandan combat, training any other country, France has long thrived which has severed diplomatic relations with
or police operations, but the agreement on its aura. Though American populism, France, has delivered a stinging rebuke to
over the years was honoured mainly in the for instance, has a disdainful attitude France. There has been much else to rock
breach, and in the critical period of 1991- towards things French, captured as much the boat of French self-righteousness, from
94 was expressly and consistently violated in Donald Rumsfeld’s dismissal of France the riots of the last couple of years to the
by France. Habyarimana enjoyed a close as “old Europe” as in the biting jokes about disclosures, in the acclaimed film, Days
personal relationship with the French French pompousness on popular TV shows of Glory (Indigenes, 2006), by the French-
president, Francois Mitterand, and his son, and right-wing radio, white Americans with Algerian director, Rachid Bouchareb,
and went about his business on a plane a modicum of pretension to be cultured about the still unrecognised role of
gifted to him by Mitterand. still use “French culture” as the most reliable 3,00,000 African soldiers – Algerians,
Things came to a head when Paul Kagame, barometer of sophistication. And, yet, Moroccans, Tunisians, sub-Saharan
whose affinity for the Anglophone world French influence has indisputably been Africans – in liberating France during the
runs deep, led his Rwandan Patriotic Front waning around the world. As an imperial second world war.
(RPF), comprised of Tutsi exiles eager to power, France was assigned a permanent France has long thought of itself as
return to their homeland, in an invasion seat in the Security Council, but scarcely spearheading the struggle for liberty,
of Rwanda. France immediately backed anyone outside the Francophone world has equality, and fraternity. It may have gifted
Habyarimana, and there is ample docu- any time for France these days, except, as to the world, as it imagines, fine perfumes,
mentation to support the view that France is the case with Britain, as a charming wines, lingerie, films, and literature, but
offered a constant stream of arms to the tourist destination. In the early days of the there is an assumption that its greatest
Hutu forces, helped in interrogation of European Union (EU), the Franco-German contribution to the modern narrative of
RPF prisoners, and trained members of the writ extended very far, but it is a telling human liberation from oppression is to
ruthless militia known as the ‘interahamwe’. sign of the times that virtually all of the have brought the light of civilisation to less
Indeed, as the killings mounted in the spring new EU members over the last decade have fortunate people. One response to such
of 1994, French armaments poured into the opted for English as the second language. overweening pride was given by chairman
hands of the Hutu killers at a frenzied pace, Chinese is rapidly becoming the second Mao, who, when asked what he thought
and French military spokespersons aired language of choice for students already of the French revolution, is said to have
the idea that the RPF was as much respon- conversant in English. Of course, the French replied, “It’s too early too tell”. In Paul
sible for the killings as the Hutus and may claim that they have always exercised Kagame and Rwanda’s spirited response
constituted a ‘khmer noir’. A RPF press soft power, swaying the world with their to the French lie the prospects for another
release at that time sought to “remind the literature, cinema and philosophers. But, kind of historical retelling which was long
international community that these French to take one example, the French cinema the preserve of Europeans. In conducting
troops not only participate in the president’s of Godard, Bresson, Rohmer, Truffaut and an official inquiry into France’s conduct,
efforts to make war, but also train the Chabrol is distinctly a thing of the past, Rwanda has reversed the moral hierar-
security agents who are responsible for the and discussions of Iranian cinema are far chies, appropriated the European’s language,
genocide that has been taking place in more common among film aficionados than and taken the coloniser’s law to the
Rwanda”. Kagame has since held firm to of French cinema. Though the French colonisers. France now has to be thinking
the view that French complicity in the complain of the creeping influence of about where the rest of Francophone
killings is profound, and on his visit to America upon their lives, France is one of Africa, its own backyard to speak, may be
Britain last month affirmed that “it’s France the most lucrative world markets for going and whether even the outer shell of
that supported the genocidal forces, that McDonalds (with 1,300 restaurants), the French Imperium will remain in the
trained them, that armed them, that par- Starbucks and other American-owned near future. EPW
ticipated in fighting against the forces that chains.
were trying to stop the genocide”. As he Some might submit that talk of the decline Email: vlal@history.ucla.edu
told the BBC, “France did not at any one of the French is premature. Apart from
time attempt to stop the genocide. On the French peacekeeping, “humanitarian”, and
contrary, they actually participated in the coalition missions in Kosovo, Bosnia-
period leading to that genocide in support- Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Iraq, there Economic and Political Weekly
ing the government of Rwanda.” are French troops in the Central African
Republic, the Ivory Coast, and Chad. But
available at
Waning French Influence once one recognises that the French play Sundar News Agents
second fiddle to the Americans, we are left (Magazine Market)
What is there in this dispute between with the EU and Francophone Africa as
158 D N Road, Shop No 6
France and a tiny country in central Africa territories that France views as falling
Near Kelkar Hotel, Fort
that has created such anxiety in official within its sphere of influence. It is here that
French circles? Is Rwanda of any intrinsic the apostasy of Rwanda appears particu- Mumbai 400 001
interest to the French, or is the conflict a larly distressing to the French. They have
Economic and Political Weekly February 10, 2007 481