Conseil restreint : Rwanda

Denoix de Saint Marc, Renaud

3 mars 1993

19930303

Conseil restreint : Rwanda

ConseilRestreint3mars1993.pdf

112230 bytes

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Présidence de la République (fr)

FM

Procès-verbal de réunion

FR

While Minister Marcel Debarge, back from Kigali, noticed that President Habyarimana was disoriented and out of breath, François Mitterrand declared in the restricted council: "We must, as soon as possible, cede the place for international forces of the United Nations. […] We have no interest in the Tutsis advancing too quickly. We must buy time, delay by all diplomatic means and continue to support the Rwandan army by providing it with the ammunition it needs".

After the RPF offensive on February 8, 1993, the Rwandan army collapsed and the French army had to intervene on February 20 to avoid defeat. Its army halted by the French, the RPF declared a ceasefire on February 21. He resumed negotiations with the non-MRND parties of the government coalition. Cooperation Minister Marcel Debarge, back from Kigali, said Habyarimana was "disoriented and out of breath". Admiral Lanxade, Chief of Staff, does not hide French military support for the government army. Pierre Joxe, Minister of Defense, proposes to seize the Security Council so that "our four companies" become "UN forces". François Mitterrand agrees and adds "We have no interest in the Tutsis advancing too quickly", thereby showing that the enemy for him is the Tutsi.