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Emmanuel Macron was in Kigalio, where he gave a speech at the Gisozi Memorial on Thursday, acknowledging responsibility, but no French involvement in the genocide, a speech very well received by his counterpart in Rwanda. In addition to the memory issues, the two heads of state spoke about the future of their cooperation, as the rapprochement is intended to be both diplomatic and economic.
The French President’s entourage hoped that this visit would mark the final step in the normalization of relations between the two countries. After the trip, optimism can be added to French because Emmanuel Macron’s speech has been very well received by the Rwandan authorities, reports our special envoy Pierre Firtion.
The fact that the French president acknowledges France’s responsibility for the Tutsi genocide largely satisfied Paul Kagame. “His words had more value than an apology, they were the truth,” commented the Rwandan president, who also insisted on greeting “the enormous courage” of his “friend” Emmanuel Macron.
Appointment of a French Ambassador to Kigali
Specifically, this start of standardization will be reflected in the coming weeks by the appointment of an ambassador on the ground as Paris had not had one since 201, the resumption of AFD, the French Development Agency will be accelerated. Economic partnerships must be forged.
►Read also: Emmanuel Macron in Rwanda: “words that have more value than excuses” for Paul Kagame
As in the last two years, AFD has supported the French-Rwandan approach. More than € 120 million has been committed since the agency returned to Rwanda in 2019, and three more agreements were signed during this visit by Emmanuel Macron. The French President spoke of an important economic component in the future cooperation between the two countries, referring to development aid taken to unprecedented levels, describes our correspondent in Kigali, Laure broulard.
Large French companies start in the country
At the same time, large French companies have established themselves in Kigali for two years. Vivendi has opened a large cinema there, an initial investment of 40 million euros for the French media giant in East Africa, while Canal Box, a subsidiary of the Vivendi Africa Group, has started offering broadband internet there.
BPI, for its part, signed a memorandum of understanding last year with Rwanda Finance Limited, a company wholly owned by the Rwandan government that aims to make the country an international financial center. Kigali, which has relied on services as a lever for development since the early 2000s, really wants to be a gateway to the African continent for international investors.
The latest illustration of this ongoing normalization of French-Rwandan relations, a French telephony cultural center recently opened in Kigali. It was inaugurated on Thursday by French President Emmanuel Macron.
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