France’s highest court, the Cour de Cassation, on Tuesday upheld a decision by investigative magistrates in 2018 to drop an investigation into the killing of Rwanda’s then president in 1994, which triggered a genocide.
Hutu politician Juvenal Habyarimana died in April 1994 when his plane was downed near Kigali airport by rockets.
His killing sparked 100 days of violence in Rwanda, mainly by Hutus against minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus, in which some 800,000 people were slaughtered.
France launched an investigation in 1998 into the role of Rwandan government officials in the killing after pressure from relatives of the French flight crew who also perished.
In a written ruling, the court cited the questions remaining on the identity of those responsible and inconsistencies in testimonies accusing members of the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front of carrying out the attack.
An inquiry by Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s government said the missile that brought down the jet had been fired from an army camp controlled by Hutus.
International investigators, however, have been unable to determine whether the perpetrators were close to the Rwandan government at the time, or to the opposition Rwandan Patriotic Front which put an end to the genocide and took power.
France’s opening of the judicial process against Rwandan officials and accusations by the post-genocide Rwandan administration that France was complicit in the massacres damaged relations between the countries for several years.
However, relations have improved during President Emmanuel Macron’s administration.
Last year, Macron travelled to Kigali where he recognised his country’s role in the genocide and said he hoped for forgiveness.
Reuters/Olajumoke Adeleke
Rwandan Habyarimana’s murder: French court upholds decision to drop investigation
Share on Facebook «||»
Share on Twitter «||»
Share on Reddit «||»
Share on LinkedIn
Read Related News On TDPel Media
Advertisement
Supreme Court Upholds Decision on Atiku Abubakar’s Witness Testimonies: Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court’s Decision on Atiku Abubakar’s Witnesses In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has delivered a ruling affirming the decision...
French case closes over Rwandan plane attack: French top court definitely closed a probe into the 1994 shooting down of the Rwandan presidential plane. The Cour de cassation in France closed a...
N2.1bn Fraud: Appeal Court Upholds Maina’s Eight-Year Sentence: …By Malcolm Hemsworth for TDPel Media. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the conviction and eight-year sentence imposed on the former Chairman of...
Adeleke supporters celebrate as Supreme Court upholds victory in Osun governorship election: …By Larry John for TDPel Media. The supporters of Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, celebrated as the Supreme Court upheld his victory in...
Court of Appeal Upholds Reinstatement of Former NIA Director General, Orders Compensation: …By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. The Court of Appeal in Abuja has supported the judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC), which ordered the...
Court of Appeal Upholds Timipre Sylva’s Eligibility in Bayelsa Governorship Race: Survival of Timipre Sylva’s Governorship Ambition The governorship ambition of Timipre Sylva, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Bayelsa State, has successfully navigated another...
Supreme Court Rejects APC Appeal, Upholds Siminalayi Fubara’s Election as Rivers State Governor: Supreme Court Rejects APC’s Appeal, Affirms Fubara’s Governorship The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive blow to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate,...
Apex Court Upholds Governor Fubara’s Election Victory, Rejecting APC Candidate Tonye Cole’s Appeal: Supreme Court Validates Fubara’s Victory: The Supreme Court has solidified the electoral triumph of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State by upholding his election victory....
French Authorities Swiftly Deport Tunisian Cleric Accused of Anti-French Remarks, Sparking Debate on Immigration and Free Speech: In a move echoing the stringent immigration policies championed by President Emmanuel Macron, France recently deported 52-year-old Tunisian cleric Mahjoub Mahjoubi. The deportation, carried out...
French Authorities Swiftly Expel Imam for Alleged Tricolore Insult After Calling French Flag Satanic, Igniting National Discourse: In a swift and unexpected operation, French authorities expelled Imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi, a Muslim preacher, from his home in Bagnols-sur-Ceze, invoking new powers granted by...