Les soldats français multiplient leur mission de reconnaissance à l'intérieur du pays et ils commencent à démanteler les barricades hutu

Leclerc, Gilles

Ghesquière, Hervé

25 juin 1994

19940625

19:00:00

CEST

Journal de 19 heures [2:08]

Les soldats français multiplient leur mission de reconnaissance à l'intérieur du pays et ils commencent à démanteler les barricades hutu

Au niveau diplomatique le FPR atténue son opposition à l'égard de la France.

1994-06-25-19afr3.mp4

7486656 bytes

France 3

INA

Journal télévisé

FR

- In Rwanda, Operation Turquoise continues without incident. The French soldiers are stepping up their reconnaissance mission inside the country and they are beginning to dismantle the Hutu barricades.
- From now on, in the two rear bases in Zaire, 1,000 men are hard at work while the RPF rebels moderate their opposition to the French initiative.
- The still few French paratroopers in Rwanda work without respite. They began to dismantle the roadblocks of Hutu militias. the soldiers are brief and directive: "It's over, make all that disappear for me". "No longer a civilian with a weapon". And: "I'm warning you, we'll be back".
- The French want above all to reassure Hutu and Tutsi civilians and demonstrate that their action is neutral with a purely humanitarian goal. They are most of the time very well received by the local population.
- For the time being, Operation Turquoise is mainly deployed in the south-west of Rwanda in the Cyangugu region. In the North-West towards Gisenyi, about thirty men are also present.
- The French have positioned themselves in particular in the Nyarushishi camp where 8,000 Tutsi refugees are gathered.
- At the diplomatic level, the RPF tones down its opposition to France and even declares that it no longer wishes to oppose Operation Turquoise if it remains strictly humanitarian.
- On the international level, the European Union supports French policy but does not commit to concrete support. However, Italy says it is ready to send men. Belgium, Portugal, Germany, Denmark, UK and Spain would prefer logistical assistance.
- In addition, 300 Senegalese arrived in Goma in Zaire.
- Finally, the United States is studying the possibility of a possible contribution.
- The international community therefore seems to be mobilizing. But on the ground France is still quite alone.