The government of France has said that it’s Property (Centre D’Echanges Culturels Franco-Rwandais) in Kigali city has been closed down by the city authorities.
Ambassador Michel Flesch, the French envoy in Rwanda was quoted by foreign press saying the complex was shut down by Kigali city authorities that noted the complex did not match the standard required of buildings within the city.
According to Ambassador Michel the complex was locked by the city authorities last week.
This follows the stained relationship between the two countries in the run-up to the 20th commemoration when 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.
France responded by rejecting participation in the commemoration event in Kigali.
However, the Mayor of Kigali city Fidel Ndayisaba said the closure of the cultural center has no connection with the stained diplomatic relations between the two countries.
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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