Rwanda ‘ s Liberation
The poignancy of his description of genocide victims , whose screams died in their throats even as they were tortured into the night only to allow loved ones to escape , suggested a refusal to negate their humanity with a fixation on victim numbers and misrepresentation of an extermination attempt as a common tribal war . As President Macron stated , “ Un genocide a une cible ,” translating to “ a genocide has a target .” This statement strikes as a subtle condemnation of the double genocide theory , which shockingly surmises that the pursuit of Nazis post holocaust could be equated to a retaliating extermination attempt on non-jewish western and central European populations .
“ The killers only had one criminal obsession : the eradication of Tutsis , of all Tutsis ,” Macron went on . It seems this sentence alone is the result of years of negotiation ; banally obvious as it may appear , it provides a clear iteration of a truth that captures the necessity of a leadership that will not tolerate the victimisation of vulnerable Rwandans . There is some courage here from the French President , which could be suggestive of more boldness to come and conveys a palpable repentance despite a denial of culpability .
Precedence as a Driver of Positive Change
When we consider precedence as a juristic concept , we generally think of a loosening of the rigid rule of law to pursue objectively beneficial human interests . For instance , precedence has allowed the Rwandan courts to rule that the Rusesabagina trial must go on , in spite of his intentional absence .
Precedence in diplomacy can be just as – if not more – influential because it establishes standards upon which future governments are politically unrestricted to provide greater or more consistent diplomatic efforts . Macron ’ s speech and press conference declarations made several promises : that genocidaires in France will be brought to justice , a French ambassador to Rwanda will be named , and France will assist Rwanda in producing its own Covid-19 vaccines . These steps show support for Rwandan welfare and even of the leadership that fought , against armed ethnophobic criminals , for its achievement .
Whether or not one agrees with President Macron ’ s every statement , particularly when it comes to his stern rejection of the word “ accomplice ” in relation to France ’ s role in the Genocide against the Tutsi , one should consider the door his admissions have opened for what could one day be friendly diplomacy with France .
Precedence is impossible to achieve without criticism ; therefore , the efforts towards its achievement must be celebrated . As we prepare for the likely outrage that a ( justified ) guilty verdict on the Hotel Rwanda terrorist would provoke with the same forces that support negationism , we must appreciate Macron ’ s own efforts in setting standards which , though controversial to some , consider the dignifying importance of morality , integrity , clarity and justice .
The blowback from the aforementioned media machines for the precedence being set in Rwanda , which is likely to be greater for the non-white nation than for white allies ( whose bravery will be celebrated while Rwandans ’ will probably be cast as hostility ), shouldn ’ t come as a surprise ; neither should it intimidate Rwandans . Laws and standards are difficult to change because they are designed to defend the interests of the system that benefits parties preselected by colonisers , slavers , genocidaires , looters and global dictators . In the case of France and the western world in general , Africa has never been one of those parties . Fortunately , this is not what we are asking for . Rwanda has shown , through our resilience and the unwavering maintenance of our known truths in spite of foreign adversity , that it isn ’ t looking for a handout but for the respect and honesty of those that claim to support our healing efforts . Excitedly , there is cause for optimism that Macron ’ s visit , his choice of language , repetition of our truths , and his symbolic and historic acts of diplomacy will eventually make way for such respect and honesty in France ’ s ( and indeed the rest of the west ’ s ) attitude towards Rwanda ._
Veronique Nyiramongi Mbaye is Rwandan-Senegalese freelance writer .
13