🇫🇷🇷🇼 France and Rwanda strengthen remembrance ties with new genocide memorial in Paris

During an official visit to France, Paul Kagame and Emmanuel Macron jointly inaugurated, on Tuesday June 2, a symbolic double stela on the banks of the Seine in Paris, in tribute to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis.

This new memorial, located near the Quai d’Orsay, has been designed as a place of reflection, remembrance, and education. It honors the memory of nearly one million people killed during the genocide in Rwanda—one of the most tragic events of the late 20th century.

The inauguration marks another step in the gradual reconciliation between France and Rwanda, whose relations had long been strained over France’s role before and during the genocide. In recent years, both countries have worked to rebuild diplomatic ties through recognition, dialogue, and memorial initiatives.

Speaking at the ceremony, both leaders emphasized the importance of preserving memory, fighting denial, and educating future generations about the dangers of hatred, division, and ethnic violence. The monument stands not only as a tribute to the victims but also as a reminder of the international community’s responsibility to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

This initiative reflects a broader commitment by both nations to promote truth, justice, and historical awareness on a global scale.