The soldiers were part of Operation Turquoise, which was officially intended to protect Tutsi refugees who were being killed. However, instead of protecting them, the French forces assisted the Interahamwe, the defeated soldiers of the ex-FAR, and members of the Rwandan government responsible for planning the genocide massacres.
In 2005, the organizations Survie, IBUKA France, FIDH, LDH, and six genocide survivors from Bisesero had requested the court to order the French government to investigate the role of French soldiers in these killings.
These organizations stated that the French soldiers abandoned the Tutsi refugees in Bisesero, who were killed by the Interahamwe and ex-FAR soldiers between June 27 and June 30, 1994.
They further explained that they have evidence showing that, while the French soldiers knew about the massacre taking place as Tutsi refugees were being killed in Bisesero, they did nothing to stop it, despite having the ability to do so.
In 2018, a French court had decided to halt the investigation into this massacre, but after the March 2021 report by Professor Vincent Duclert, which revealed France's involvement in the genocide, a new decision was made to resume the investigation. However, the investigation was once again suspended in October 2023.
In September 2024, the Paris Court of Appeal heard the arguments from these organizations and Bisesero Genocide survivors, who called for further investigation into the French soldiers' role in Operation Turquoise, but the court dismissed their claims.
Eric Plouvier, the lawyer representing Survie, stated that this decision denied justice to the victims of Bisesero and the survivors.
"Investigation must continue. It is not acceptable for the court to make such a harsh decision to deny justice," said Plouvier.
On the other hand, those involved in the operation, including General (Rtd) Jean-Claude Lafourcade, who led the mission, argued that the investigation should be ended, stating that the French soldiers committed no crimes.
IGIHE
