Agence Internationale de Presse Pressenza

4 février 2012

Hutu extremists killed Rwandan president

A Rwandan inquiry has concluded that radical Hutus were responsible for the death of President Juvénal Habyarimana in an airplane crash in 1994. The assassination triggered a genocide that killed around 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. After hearing over 500 witnesses, the commission that conducted the probe says the President was shot down by soldiers within his own army.

665d4e33ffcd797a3ed0812bae4ff20717d89257.1280x960
Image : Wikimedia Commons
Juvénal Habyarimana during a visit to the United States, 1980

Pressenza Kigali, 08/01/10 After hearing over 500 witnesses, the commission that conducted the probe says the plane carrying President Habyarimana was shot down by rebellious soldiers within his own army. Mr Habyarimana, a member of the Rwanda's Hutu majority, pursued reconciliation with the Tutsi rebels led by Paul Kagame, the country's current president.

The commission says radical Hutu saw the move as treason and murdered the president for that reason. A French magistrate, Jean-Louis Bruguière, had previously concluded that Tutsis were to blame for the president's assassination. The conclusion led France and Rwanda to sever diplomatic ties.

Pas de nouvels items d'Agenda

Pressenza, an international news agency dedicated to news about peace and nonviolence with offices in Milan, Rome, London, Paris, New York, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Santiago and Hong Kong. Find out who we are and get in touch with us.

Please support our partners by finding out who they are and visiting their web sites.
Hosting facilitated by
Helogo-medium
Funding provided by
Weber Hardstand