Abstract
- Kigali airport will reopen tomorrow [July 7]. A moderate Hutu, president of the MDR, agreed to form a government of national unity. For now the government army is routed. She carries with her tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of refugees.
- It's the rout of the Rwandan army. We are on the road to Kigali, the government soldiers have just left the capital, which fell into the hands of the RPF rebels. Hundreds of thousands of civilians accompany them in their flight. 60 kilometers from Kigali, a first group of refugees walked all the way without stopping. They advance west, in the only area that government forces still control. Refugee: "I had nine children. This is the only one I have left. They killed them all".
- Kigali seems to have been emptied of a large part of its population, mostly Hutus. The government army warned them two days ago that it was preparing to leave town. It was the last battle fought by Rwandan soldiers. They breached the rebel lines that surrounded the capital to retreat.
- They retreated to Ruhengeri in the north-west of the country. This is where the préfet of Kigali is located, who was among the first to flee. Colonel Renzaho, "Ex Prefect of Kigali": "We had to evacuate, we had no more ammunition! It is not the strength that we lack! We decided to evacuate, to withdraw! And to organize ourselves! Awaiting a takeover of Kigali!".
- But the civilian population no longer has confidence and the exodus continues. Those who no longer have the strength to walk stopped in Rushashi, about thirty kilometers from Kigali. They are alone, no humanitarian organization has come to meet them. These refugees will not stay here long, the RPF fighters are advancing a little more every day. They will therefore continue their march and will go as far as possible. They hope to be able to reach the regions controlled by the French army before being overtaken by their worst enemies.
- In Stockholm the Patriotic Front of Rwanda promised to push back the French soldiers. But on the spot the situation remains calm.
- Operation Turquoise has been ramped up: 2,500 men and 500 vehicles are dedicated to it on the ground. In Gikongoro, the most advanced French post on the front held by the Rwandan Patriotic Front, the heavy mortar section of the 11 th marine artillery regiment, was again installed this afternoon. by burying ammunition and hiding vehicles.
- This morning, Commander Gillier, chief of the Marines of Commando Trépel, showed the last trenches dug here and there on the hill. His men are helped by volunteers sent by the mayor. In the absence of any incident, the tension eased. But the French remain vigilant. Marin Gillier, "Frigate Captain": "We are ready for any eventuality, wishing that nothing happens. That's why we are here, so that there are as few deaths as possible. We we are ready for anything".
- Whether on the hills surrounding the city or in the middle of refugee camps deprived of everything, the French are reassuring. This is what General Germanos, the deputy "operations" to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, came to see in a helicopter tour. He took the opportunity to recall by hammering them the goals of a mission whose limits are not always clear. General Germanos: "Our intention is clearly displayed: we did not come to fight here, we came to prevent one party or the other from committing abuses. Today we made it clear where we were and what the area was. that we intended to protect".
- Barring a serious incident, the Turquoise mission is therefore maintained within the framework of its mission: to protect the populations inside the current security zone until the end of July. The question still remains whether the UN will have taken over on that date.
- Isabelle Staes from France 2 and photographer José Nicolas from the Sipa agency were shot and wounded as they drove across the front line between Gikongoro and Kigali.
- Yesterday [July 5] Valéry Giscard d'Estaing criticized the evolution of Operation Turquoise. His words were relayed shortly after by Charles Millon and Jacques Baumel. On the other hand the government spokesperson, Nicolas Sarkozy, judges that Operation Turquoise is a success and that it has not changed in nature. But the Belgian Minister of Defense believes that it goes beyond the limits of simple humanitarian intervention. Léo Delcroix: "At the beginning, it seemed like an action strictly, purely humanitarian. Now we see that the French soldiers are more and more involved in the internal situation, in the military and political combat. When the operation becomes more and more more military and political, there, we are a little reluctant".
- All these criticisms greatly irritated the French Minister of Defense, François Léotard. François Léotard: "I beg you to understand what the confusion, worry or reaction of a soldier in the process of acting when he hears comments which may disavow his action can be. I believe that before the Operation, it is good that everyone expresses themselves. When it takes place, civic-mindedness implies that everyone stands in solidarity with the soldiers of France. To say that we could, given the new situation and the hundreds of thousands of refugees, from Zaire, ensuring the protection of more than a million people is something that is neither reasonable nor responsible! Because it is not true! Because it is totally impossible! And if we left now, as we are being offered, these camps, the atrocities and massacres would resume! Who could not understand that? So if we say that for reasons which are domestic political reasons, I believe that it's a shame and that it damages the credibility of those who speak nt this way".