Silent Accomplice: The Untold Story of France's Role in the Rwandan GenocideThe massacre of 1 million Rwandan Tutsis by ethnic Hutus in 1994 has become a symbol of the international community's helplessness in the face of human rights atrocities. It is assumed that the West was well-intentioned, but ultimately ineffectual. But as Andrew Wallis reveals in this shocking book, one country - France - was secretly providing military, financial and diplomatic support to the genocidaires all along. Based on new interviews with key players and eye-witnesses, and previously unreleased documents, Wallis's' book tells a story which many have suspected, but never seen set out before. France, Wallis discovers, was keen to defend its influence in Africa, even if it meant complicity in genocide, for as French President Francois Mitterrand once said: "in countries like that, genocide is not so important". Wallis's riveting expose of the French role in one of the darkest chapters of human history will provoke furious debate, denials, and outrage. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - cwhouston - LibraryThingThis is a shocking account of the disregard the French government under Mitterrand showed towards African lives. Well referenced, this describes how sections of the administration supported those ... Read full review
Contents
Invasion and Intervention | 14 |
Civil War and Peace Talks | 37 |
Militia Massacres and Arusha | 51 |
Retreat | 79 |
Arming the Genocide | 102 |
Operation Turquoise | 122 |
Bisesero and Withdrawal | 146 |
Burying Genocide | 180 |
Conclusion | 199 |
Notes | 217 |
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Common terms and phrases
Africa Cell African Rights Agathe Habyarimana Akazu alleged ambassador anglophone April arms arrived Arusha asked Assemblee nationale 1998 attack Bagosora Barril BBC Panorama 1995 Belgian Bigogwe Bisesero Bizimungu civilians Colonel commander cooperation Cyangugu Dallaire defence DGSE diplomatic Elysee embassy ethnic evacuation force former France francophone French French government French military French soldiers French troops genocidaires genocide Gikongoro Gisenyi Goma helicopters Huchon Human Rights Watch humanitarian Hutu Hutu extremists ICTR Interahamwe interim government intervention Interview Jean-Christophe Jean-Christophe Mitterrand journalist July June Juppe Kagame Kigali killed killers Lanxade later leaders machetes mandate Martres massacres militia militiamen minister Ministry mission Mitterrand murder Nations Operation Noroit Operation Turquoise Paris Paul Kagame political politicians president presidential guard Prunier radio regime reported Rights Watch 1999 RTLM Ruhengeri Rwanda Rwandan army Rwandan government Saint-Exupery secret service stop survivors told Tutsi Uganda UNAMIR weapons Zaire zone