French President Emmanuel Macron and Rwandan President Paul Kagame jointly inaugurated a new memorial in Paris on Tuesday dedicated to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people in Rwanda.
Speaking during the ceremony, Macron described the monument as an important symbol that places the memory of the genocide at the center of France’s national consciousness. He said the memorial reflects years of efforts to confront historical truths and preserve the memory of those who lost their lives.
The inauguration marks another step in the gradual improvement of relations between France and Rwanda. In 2021, during a visit to Kigali, Macron acknowledged France’s significant responsibility for failures surrounding the events that preceded the genocide, though he stopped short of issuing a formal apology.
That acknowledgment followed the findings of a French commission, which concluded that France had failed to recognize the warning signs leading to the mass killings and carried substantial responsibility for its actions and policies during the period.
The newly unveiled memorial, known as “L’Archive,” stands along the Seine River in central Paris. Created by Portuguese artist Grada Kilomba, the monument features two black stone structures bearing inscriptions dedicated to the hundreds of thousands of victims killed during the genocide between April and July 1994.
The memorial is intended to serve as a place of remembrance, reflection, and education for future generations, while reinforcing ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between France and Rwanda.
