A major concert on a Monday in Paris? For the organisers of the so-called Solidarité Congo concert, this was the ideal time based on the availability of the artists and the venue. According to them, the scheduling has nothing to do with the commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi planned on the same date every year, although they considered a postponement as per their claims. However, under the guise of supporting war victims in the DR Congo, this concert raises serious concerns. Not only is it headlined by an artist known for his openly hostile stance toward Rwanda, but it is also taking place in France—a country deeply involved in the planning and execution of the Genocide. ALSO READ: UNICEF distances self from April 7 Paris concert France provided support to the genocidal government at the time and later became a haven for many genocide fugitives. Despite years of demands for justice by survivors of the genocide, several key perpetrators continue to live freely in France, benefiting from a lack of political will to prosecute them. The choice of Paris as the concert's location, combined with the involvement of figures who spread hatred, sends a dangerous message. Instead of fostering genuine solidarity, it risks fueling old divisions and justifying narratives that have long been used to rewrite history. The timing is particularly painful for genocide survivors, who are preparing to commemorate 31 years since the tragedy that took the lives of over a million people. ALSO READ: Solidarity or subversion? The disturbing reality behind the April 7 Solidarité Congo concert If the true intention of this event were humanitarian, it would have been organized with sensitivity to the historical context and the ongoing fight for justice. Instead, it appears to be yet another platform where revisionists and genocide sympathizers attempt to erase responsibility and shift blame. For Rwandans and all those committed to truth and justice, this concert is not an act of solidarity—it is a mockery of history, and we should stand up to fight it. While we condemn the act, it is also important to recognize voices of reason that have come up to call out the organisers and their enablers. Among these is the Mayor of Paris, Anna Hidalgo who has written to the police asking them to stop the concert.
