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kbad10 t1_j2xonnx wrote

Reply to comment by princeps_astra in Rwanda report: France ‘complicit’ in 1994 genocide | Human Rights News by Character-Rabbit-127

If they were paying for and supplying weapons, it would be surprising to not know what the weapons were for.

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princeps_astra t1_j2xt9ky wrote

Oh they knew the coup against Tutsi power was about to be violent. It started with the assassination of the president by having his plane crash, they weren't planning for a peaceful transition of power

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Narf-a-licious t1_j2xwy95 wrote

*coup against the Hutu power [government].

The Hutu nationalist were in power, and the coup was against them. I don't believe there is any solid consensus in the International community about whether President Habyarimana's plane was shot by extremist elements of his own regime (who were upset with his more moderate policies) or by RPF leaders (i.e. Kagame), but it is likely that France was in no way involved in that specific powder keg element.

EDIT: coup is only an accurate term if Habyarimana's plane was shot by his own extremist party members, otherwise it would be labeled an assassination.

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princeps_astra t1_j2xzg88 wrote

Oh I wouldn't go as far as saying the French knew what would happen to the plane, but that they planned for an escalation of violence seems quite evident

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frenchchevalierblanc t1_j2yoei6 wrote

French pilots died on the plane crash

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princeps_astra t1_j3ebl5c wrote

I personally doubt that they knew about it. However, I also doubt they would have cared about the presence of French nationals if they were aware and cool with such a project

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