President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame are in Paris, France, where they are taking part in the inauguration of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The memorial, which is being unveiled in France, is based on an artwork known as “Les Archives.” It was established through a partnership involving the French government, the City of Paris, and Ibuka France.
The artwork was created by Portuguese artist Grada Kilomba. It consists of two opposing rectangular pillars and is intended to serve as a permanent site for remembrance of those killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The memorial is located in central Paris at the Esplanade Habib-Bourguiba.
Following the inauguration, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame are expected to attend a reception hosted by President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron at the Palais de l’Élysée, the official residence of the French President.
According to the Élysée Palace, the event will highlight the process of reconciliation that has developed over the years between Rwanda and France, as well as ongoing efforts to promote historical research and establish the truth about the genocide.
The French presidency also stated that the ceremony will reaffirm the message President Macron delivered during his visit to Rwanda on May 27, 2021, when he joined Rwandans in commemorating the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
During that visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, President Macron acknowledged that France had failed to recognize warning signs indicating that the Tutsi population was being prepared for genocide and had continued to support the government of Juvénal Habyarimana. He stated that France bore a responsibility to confront this history and support efforts toward truth, remembrance, and reconciliation.
