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Last update :
September 20, 2026
September 20, 2026
La France réaffirme que l'opération Turquoise demeure une mission uniquement humanitaire
Card Number 36579
Number
36579
Author
Tripault, Richard
Author
Ghesquière, Hervé
Date
6 juillet 1994
Ymd
19940706
Time
19:00:00
Time zone
CEST
Uptitle
Journal de 19 heures
Title
La France réaffirme que l'opération Turquoise demeure une mission uniquement humanitaire
Subtitle
Bruxelles estime que la France s'est trop engagée au Rwanda.
Size
20595 bytes
Pages nb.
2
Source
Public records
Type
Transcription d'une émission de télévision
Language
FR
Abstract
- In Rwanda, French soldiers continue to carry out their humanitarian mission, particularly in the Gikongoro region in the country's southwest. It is a mission that is raising concerns, especially in Belgium.
- French forces are on alert in the Gikongoro area, now designated a "Humanitarian Zone". Soldiers are fortifying and securing the location, as Rwandan Patriotic Front troops are barely 10 kilometers away.
- Inside this zone, there are 400,000 refugees who have fled the fighting and massacres. France reaffirms that Operation Turquoise remains a strictly humanitarian mission, aimed at protecting civilians from armed groups. François Léotard: "Our mission now is to secure this zone. So I told non-governmental organizations: 'Come! Come and help us manage the influx of refugees—the very people we came here for'. We had no other reason to be here. And I can tell you that the cost of this operation and its deployment demonstrate just how disinterested France's motives are in this matter".
- The first negative reaction from a European country has come from Belgium, which is suspending a medical aid project. Brussels believes France has become too deeply involved in Rwanda. Léo Delcroix, the Belgian Defense Minister: "At first, it seemed like a strictly, purely humanitarian action. But now that the operation is becoming increasingly military and political, we are somewhat reluctant".
- However, the French government reaffirms its intention to withdraw by the end of the month. It hopes to see a United Nations mission established, but for the time being, no country appears keen to quickly send troops to Rwanda.
- Two French journalists have been wounded by gunfire in Rwanda, in the Butare region. They are our colleague from France 2, Isabelle Staes, and a photographer from the SIPA agency, José Nicolas.
- French forces are on alert in the Gikongoro area, now designated a "Humanitarian Zone". Soldiers are fortifying and securing the location, as Rwandan Patriotic Front troops are barely 10 kilometers away.
- Inside this zone, there are 400,000 refugees who have fled the fighting and massacres. France reaffirms that Operation Turquoise remains a strictly humanitarian mission, aimed at protecting civilians from armed groups. François Léotard: "Our mission now is to secure this zone. So I told non-governmental organizations: 'Come! Come and help us manage the influx of refugees—the very people we came here for'. We had no other reason to be here. And I can tell you that the cost of this operation and its deployment demonstrate just how disinterested France's motives are in this matter".
- The first negative reaction from a European country has come from Belgium, which is suspending a medical aid project. Brussels believes France has become too deeply involved in Rwanda. Léo Delcroix, the Belgian Defense Minister: "At first, it seemed like a strictly, purely humanitarian action. But now that the operation is becoming increasingly military and political, we are somewhat reluctant".
- However, the French government reaffirms its intention to withdraw by the end of the month. It hopes to see a United Nations mission established, but for the time being, no country appears keen to quickly send troops to Rwanda.
- Two French journalists have been wounded by gunfire in Rwanda, in the Butare region. They are our colleague from France 2, Isabelle Staes, and a photographer from the SIPA agency, José Nicolas.