{December 1993, French soldiers under “operation Noroît” officially withdrawn from Rwanda. Deployed in October 1990 in response to a request for support of Rwandan President Habyarimana, this operation went far beyond the mere protection of European citizens and allowed the Rwandan regime to maintain the power until the implementation of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis.}
In a diplomatic cable dated December 14, 1993, the French ambassador to Rwanda, Jean-Michel Marlaud explained this withdrawal as a sign that France is committed to compliance with the Arusha peace accords.
Indeed, these agreements between the Rwandan government and the RPF impose the “withdrawal of foreign troops” from Rwanda. But this withdrawal occurs more than one year late, since it was supposed to be done by August 1992. In fact, a cease-fire in March 1991 already provided for the withdrawal, two and a half years earlier…
The delay was not trivial because in the meantime, Noroît operation, was the mission to protect foreign nationals, however it served to reinforce the Rwandan regime, including forming the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and providing them with information. In addition, in February and March 1993, Noroît conducted the fantasy operation to stop an RPF offensive, which, according to the French members themselves, is a course that French army “would not have to go”.
During this operation, the French have “controlled indirectly” an “army of about 20,000 men”: the forces of the Rwandan regime then routed. According to President Habyarimana himself, using the France “was essential to prevent a military victory of the RPF.”
The Telegram of Jean-Michel Marlaud, cited above, also refers critics of Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana “that Noroît was in Rwanda to defend the only president” Habyarimana.
In December 1993, the genocidal project is already underway: anonymous FAR officers warn, in a letter to the UN mission, the existence of a “Machiavellian plan of President Habyarimana” following which massacres “are getting ready and should extend to all parts of the country starting with the so-called high-concentration regions of Tutsi […] This strategy is aimed at convincing the public that it is ethnic unrest and thus encourage the RPF, as was the case in February 1993, to violate the cease-fire, which would serve as a pretext for the widespread resumption of hostilities. ” According to the letter, the elimination of favorable political leaders to peace agreements is planned especially the Prime Minister.
At the same time, the distribution of weapons to civilian militias by FAR continues. This strategy, referred to as the “civil defense” by Rwandan officials clearly shows the method of formation of armed groups in the population.
Finally, the withdrawal of French forces in December 1993 is not complete, since dozens of military advisers remain in Rwanda. But a note of the Belgian intelligence dated on December 23, 1993 states that “several other military [French] be stationed in civilian” and shall specify a group of 13th RDP and continues to circulate “in uniform.” At the end of 1993, France did not always respect the peace agreements and continues to support the scheme that was organizing the genocide against Tutsi.
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