France pulls out of Rwanda genocide ceremony - Africa - Al Jazeera English

6.4.14

France pulls out of Rwanda genocide ceremony - Africa - Al Jazeera English - France said Kagame's statement hindered reconciliation efforts between the two countries and announced that Christiane Taubira, the French justice minister, would not attend Monday's commemorations in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

"France regrets that it cannot take part in the 20th anniversary commemorations for the genocide," said Romain Nadal, a spokesman for the country's foreign ministry.

Kagame also accused French soldiers, who took part in a military humanitarian mission in Rwanda's south, of being both accomplices and "actors" in the bloodbath.

Paris has repeatedly denied these accusations and insists that French forces were trying to protect Rwanda's civilians.

Relations between the two countries were frozen between 2006 and 2009 but have improved. France last month sentenced Pascal Simbikangwa, a former Rwandan army captain, to 25 years in prison for his role in the massacre.

It was the first trial in France to punish those responsible for the three-month wave of violence.