RWANDA CONTEMPLATES BREAKING RELATIONS WITH FRANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L KIGALI 001130

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PREL KAWC RW
SUBJECT: RWANDA CONTEMPLATES BREAKING RELATIONS WITH FRANCE

REF: KIGALI 1125

Classified By: Ambassador Michael R. Arietti, reason 1.4 (B/D)


1. (C) Ambassador Richard Sezibera (protect),Great Lakes
Special Envoy for the Rwandan Government, called Ambassador
early on the morning of November 24 to report that the GOR
was "moving toward breaking relations with France," as a
result of the French issuance of international arrest
warrants for nine senior GOR officials (reftel). Sezibera
said that the GOR considered the judge's efforts to be
orchestrated by French intelligence services, as a means of
pre-empting the GOR's own investigations into French
involvement in the 1994 genocide. (Note: called the "Mucyo
Commission" after its Chair, former Justice Minister Jean de
Dieu Mucyo, the Commission has recently begun taking
testimony in Kigali on that subject). Sezibera said that
indictments of French officials for their role in the
genocide would likely follow the contemplated break in
relations.


2. (C) Sezibera further stated that he had been in touch
with French Ambassador Decherf, who told Sezibera that France
would not act upon these arrest warrants itself. Although
not mentioned by Sezibera, we have been told that the GOR has
recalled its ambassador to France for consultations. We
understand that the British Ambassador received a similar
call from Sezibera on the possibility of breaking relations.


3. (C) Sezibera said that French Judge Bruguiere's
investigations had been based upon "falsehood and rumor," and
that the judge had spoken almost exclusively with "those who
denied the genocide," as well as those who had themselves
participated in the genocide. Sezibera also disparaged the
testimony of a minor RPF defector, whom he characterized as
an embezzler and psychologically unfit.


4. (SBU) On November 23, a government-organized protest
march from a central Kigali roundabout to Amahoro Stadium
drew several thousand participants. Government media
estimated the crowd at 15,000; an embassy FSN present at the
stadium estimated the crowd at five to seven thousand. The
peaceful protesters carried signs marked with such messages
as "France out of Rwanda" and "France Wants Second Genocide."
BBC news reports of a French flag burned at the protest
could not be confirmed by our FSN. We understand these
protest may continue around the country for the next several
days.


5. (C) A French citizen attached to the European Commission
office in Rwanda told poloff of an impromptu meeting of
French officials working in various international
organizations, organized by Ambassador Decherf to discuss the
events of the last several days. According to this French
citizen, a member of the French embassy staff had paid a call
on colleagues at the Belgian embassy (which is responsible
for evacuation of French citizens) to "make the normal sort
of check in such circumstances." This visit prompted a rumor
of impending French evacuation, which Ambassador Decherf
dispelled at the meeting of French officials.


6. (SBU) In anticipation of potential questions from
American media, post suggests the following talking points
for any press guidance:

--The USG takes no position on the subject of the shooting
down of the Habyarimana presidential jet in 1994. There are
several competing theories of responsibility.
--The USG is not in a position to prospectively judge the
applicability of the French arrest warrants.
--We are not aware of any up-coming travel to the U.S. by GOR
officials potentially subject to these arrest warrants.
--We urge continued dialogue between the French and Rwandan
governments.



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ARIETTI