Rwanda-France: Strengthening parliamentary cooperation

The President of the Rwandan Senate, Dr. Kalinda François Xavier, received the French Ambassador to Rwanda, Aurélie Royet-Gounin. Their discussions focused on strengthening relations and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries, particularly the senates.

The French ambassador to Rwanda, Aurélie Royet-Gounin, had come to meet with the Rwandan Senate office for an exchange on bilateral relations and inter-parliamentary cooperation.

The President of the Rwandan Senate, Dr. François Xavier Kalinda, emphasized that Rwanda was ready to maintain its good relations with France. He commended the role that France continues to play in Rwanda’s development and in the fight against those who seek to deny and minimize the genocide committed against the Tutsi in 1994.

Rwanda is ready to continue its good relations with France. Dr. François Xavier Kalinda

Regarding this denial of the genocide, the Rwandan community in France (CRF) recently filed a formal complaint against Radio France Internationale (RFI). They accused the radio station of providing a platform to members of the FDLR armed group, linked to the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and presenting them as a legitimate organization.

Lawyer Richard Gisagara filed this complaint with the Communications Regulatory Authority (ARCOM) on November 15, 2025.

The Rwandan community in France cited an article published by RFI on November 10, 2025, entitled “We will resist until Kigali accepts dialogue, say the FDLR”.

The Rwandan community in France says the article misrepresents the FDLR as a lightly armed faction operating in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), ignoring its genocidal history and the sanctions imposed on it by the United Nations Security Council, the United States and the European Union.

The president of the Rwandan Senate and the French ambassador

The Rwandan community in France has urged the French media regulatory authority to review RFI’s practices and ensure that the station respects its legal and ethical responsibilities.

The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to preserving historical truth and combating hate speech and impunity.

Cooperation between Rwanda and France is focused on key sectors such as health, education, the environment and digital technology, with a significant financial commitment from France.

The French Development Agency (AFD) plays a central role in this partnership, financing concrete projects such as the modernization of hospitals and the improvement of living conditions in rural areas.