Authorities of Kigali city council have today began works to pull down structures at the Plot onto which the Franco-Rwanda Cultural center (Centre D’Echanges Culturels Franco-Rwandais) is situated.
The complex was shut down in April by Kigali city authorities because the structure was outdated and did not match the standard required of buildings within the city.
In the run-up to the 20th commemoration of the Genocide in Rwanda, relations between Rwanda and France turned sour after President Paul Kagame reiterated Frances principal role in the preparation and execution of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda which claimed a million lives.
The Mayor of Kigali city Fidel Ndayisaba said according to the law the cultural center complex didn’t comply with the new standards of the city and thus needed to be removed.
In December 2013, the French ambassador was served with a notice letter giving the proprietor of the land onto which the complex is built 90 days to comply with the city standards.
However, an official in the French Foreign affairs Ministry denounced the closure of the center saying it was still conducting its services of teaching french language to Rwandans.
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