Hungry for Truth, Peace and Justice

Assassination of President Habyarimana: the UN accused of complicity

By Abdoul Aziz Agne
Walfadjri
June 5, 2009

Also available in French.

DAKAR, Senegal-Fifteen years after the missile attack that killed the Rwandan president, Juvenal Habyarimana the mystery continues to surround this terrorist act that triggered the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Rwandan Youth Movement for Reconciliation, Peace and Truth in Rwanda (MJRPVR) strongly believes that the United Nations, by its inaction, is complicit in the missile attack that destroyed Habyarimana’s aircraft.

The future of Rwanda appears to be linked to this unfortunate event that occurred on April 6, 1994 which tragically cost life to President Juvenal Habyarimana. The president’s jet was shot down by a missile attack as it prepared to land at the Kanombe International Airport. The president and his team had been on a regional peace meeting in Tanzania in an attempt to end the Rwandan civil war between his government and the RPF rebels that had invaded the country from Uganda since October 1990.

Today, fifteen years later, Rwandans want that justice be done by shading the light on the real culprits of this terrorist act. With regard to this issue, the Rwandan Youth Movement for Reconciliation, Peace and Truth in Rwanda (MJRPVR) does not go around the bush to accuse the United Nations of complicity in this crime. The movement which encompasses Rwandan youths who love justice, attests that the missiles used to carry out this terrorist act were launched from an area that was controlled by the UN peacekeepers.

“It is important that the world know that the UN has always hidden the truth about this terrorist attack against the president’s plane”, asserted these young people during a press conference held at the headquarters of the African Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights (RADDHO).

One may recall that just a few weeks ago, a study in the United States reported that the black box found on the site of the accident was not from Habyarimana’s plane. Instead, it was from a Concorde aircraft, specifically, the Air France Concorde 209, F-BVFC.

This suspicious fact suggests that other factors are indeed involved in this mysterious murder. In addition, members of this youth movement reminded the public that since 1992 the UN, through the UNAMIR, was in charge of the security of Kigali City.

Furthermore, MJRPVR members pointed out the following questions: How were the three missiles used in this attack sent to Rwanda when we all know that at that time Rwanda was under the UN arm embargo? How did these missiles escape the control by the UN peacekeepers?

There are so many unanswered questions which put the UN into the center of such a tragic event that has profoundly marked the Rwandan history. Indeed, the attack against the Rwandan president’s plane triggered the Rwandan genocide of 1994, which claimed nearly two million lives, Tutsis and Hutus included.

This is why, the MJRPVR “begs” the UN “to release the recording from the black box of the aircraft that was shot down”. It will be recalled that the incident occurred in a context of peace negotiations to end the Rwandan civil war that began on October 1, 1990.

These negotiation efforts had led to the Arusha Peace Agreement signed on August 4, 1993. The agreement mainly focused on three points including power-sharing, recognition of the RPF movement as a political party and the integration of RPF rebels in the Rwandan army.

Actually, the MJRPVR strongly believes that restituting the truth about who killed Habyarimans is a fundamental step in the search for peace and stability in Rwanda. For this reason, MJRPVR members plan to seize the African Union so that the investigation process into the where about of the black box from Habyarimana’s plane can finally find its epilogue.

Related Materials:
The alleged mystery surrounding the black box of the Rwandan genocide

The Arusha Peace Agreement

Is Judge Bruguière’s investigation of the 6 April 1994 attack nothing but a burst bladder?

Explaining the Ultimate Escalation in Rwanda:How and Why Tutsi Rebels Provoked a Retaliatory Genocide

New Revelations on Who Killed Habyalimana and Ntaryamira on April 6,1994

The Assassination of former Rwandan President Habyarimana? Nobody Can Call It a "Plane Crash" Now!

Civilian Plane Shoot-Downs and International (In)Justice; From 007 to Rwanda

UN and Canada Complicit in Rwanda Cover-Up: Americans and Rwanda Patrotic Front (RPF) Planned and Launched Aircraft Attack

Rwanda: Declaration on the shooting down of Habyarimana's aircraft on April 6, 1994

Major General Paul Kagame behind the shooting down of late Habyarimana's plane: An eye witness testimony

Testimony of Abdul Ruzibiza about how mistakes by both the Rwandan Government and the RPF led to the Rwandan genocide of 1994

posted by Mamadou Kouyate @ 7:16 PM