France24 broadcaster uses a photo of a Rwandan Police Peacekeeper in Central Africa for a story on child rape by French Soldiers on similar mission in the country
Six French soldiers are said to be involved. But when France24 published the story from AFP, it used a photo of a Rwandan policeman.
On Twitter, the reaction this morning has been of shock and dismay. A hashtag #SomeOneTellFrance24 is doing the rounds.
#SomeoneTellFrance24 to find better ways to defend the myth of "honneur de la #France" than to use #Rwanda in #France's child rape scandal.
— Mãnzi (@ubumanzi) March 22, 2017
#SomeoneTellFrance24 that when their President @fhollande was in Central Africa, #Rwanda Peacekeepers were in charge of his security. pic.twitter.com/ubILuGDlbK
— PETER Mahirwe (@pmahirwe) March 22, 2017
#SomeoneTellFrance24 Rwandan Peacekeepers operate under floods to save lives while French troops are abusing children in #CAR pic.twitter.com/TCYrVN76WB
— Noel Kambanda (@NoelKambanda) March 22, 2017
Dear @FRANCE24
1) Respect Rwandan peacekeepers
2) Apologize to Rwanda
3) Rectify CAR pix
4) Redress #CARChildRapists #SomeoneTellFrance24 pic.twitter.com/6qoavRHhy0— Caroline Kere (@carolinekere) March 22, 2017
Since the sex abuse scandal erupted, France24 and RFI radio have used photos of Rwanda security forces in their stories on several occasions.
Rwanda and France remain in a cold as the establishment in Paris is accused on involvement in the 1994 genocide. French commandos raped Tutsi girls and women, supplied weapons for the militias and opened safe corridor for the government, its army and militias – leaving a completely devastated country.
Both France24 and RFI are funded directly by the French government.
UPDATED 14h (Rwandan Time)
Several hours later, France24 deleted the tweet in question and also removed the photo of Rwandan police officer from the news story on its site. A new campaign has been launched demanding more: an apology.
