NICOLAS SARKOZY will become the first French president to visit Rwanda since the 1994 genocide when he arrives in the capital, Kigali, today.
Relations between the two countries have been mired in acrimony and recriminations in recent years and diplomatic ties were only restored last November after a break of almost four years.
President Paul Kagame, who is due to meet Mr Sarkozy this afternoon, severed diplomatic relations in 2006 when a French judge issued arrest warrants for nine of his associates on suspicion of involvement in the killing of former president Juvénal Habyarimana in April 1994. The shooting down of Mr Habyarimana’s plane near Kigali triggered the killing of 800,000 Rwandans – the great majority ethnic Tutsis – over a three-month period.
The Rwandan government strongly denies the charges. It accuses the French government of having trained and armed extremist Hutu militias responsible for the genocide, as well as not doing enough to deport suspected genocidaires living in exile in France.
Mr Sarkozy, who has spoken of breaking with France’s clientelist relationship with African allies, has described the visit as an opportunity to “turn the page” on the difficult relationship between the two countries.
He is expected to visit a genocide memorial during his short visit, while the presidents are also likely to discuss development projects, trade and issues relating to the fugitives living on French soil.
In Gabon yesterday, meanwhile, Mr Sarkozy and President Ali Bongo Ondimba pledged a more open and equal relationship between their two countries.
On his third visit to the former French colony in two and a half years, Mr Sarkozy denied that France favoured Mr Bongo in last year’s disputed elections.
He said he didn’t expect special treatment for French companies dealing in Gabon’s oil, minerals and lumber against their US and Chinese rivals.
“France did not have a candidate in the last election,” Mr Sarkozy said in a speech in the capital, Libreville.
“My way to respect you is to let you choose just as you let us choose.”
Rioters burned French-run businesses last August after Mr Bongo was declared the winner in disputed elections.