Macron and Kagame unveil memorial to Rwanda genocide victims in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron and Rwandan President Paul Kagame unveiled a memorial to victims of the Rwanda genocide in Paris, marking an unprecedented rapprochement between the two countries. The memorial, located on the banks of the Seine River, commemorates the 1994 genocide that began on April 7 when Hutu militias known as Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi launched ethnic cleansing campaigns against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Macron acknowledged France's co-responsibility in the genocide during the ceremony. The Rwanda genocide lasted 100 days and resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people, primarily Tutsis, making it one of the most rapid and brutal genocides in modern history. The unveiling of this memorial represents a significant symbolic gesture in French-Rwandan relations, which had been severely strained for decades due to France's controversial role during and before the genocide.