The Prefect of Paris Police Nunez Laurent has announced plans to request organisers to reschedule the French-Congolese musician Maitre Gims’ concert set for April 7, citing concerns over potential public disturbances. This follows a request from Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo to the police prefect, urging him to cancel the ‘ill-chosen’ concert. ALSO READ: Paris Mayor asks police to stop ‘ill-chosen’ April 7 concert In a statement posted on the police prefecture’s official X account on Thursday, March 27, authorities wrote, “Failing this, the Police Prefect will initiate proceedings to prohibit the event from taking place.” Le préfet de Police, @NunezLaurent va demander aux organisateurs le report du concert à une autre date que celle du 7 avril eu égard aux risques de troubles à l’ordre public. A défaut, le préfet de Police lancera une procédure d’interdiction de la tenue de l’évènement. pic.twitter.com/cWWNnQCTha — Préfecture de Police (@prefpolice) March 27, 2025 Gims had announced he would hold a concert dubbed ‘Solidarité Congo’ on April 7, which coincides with the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The musician, who has Congolese roots, is accused of spreading anti-Rwanda tropes and hate speech against the Tutsi. His concert would take place in a context of renewed hate speech and persecution of Congolese Tutsi, at the hands of groups like the genocidal FDLR, a DR Congo-based terrorist militia by remnants of the masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Solidarity or subversion? The disturbing reality behind the April 7 Solidarité Congo concert Richard Gisagara, a Rwandan lawyer, welcomed Paris police prefect’s move to address the concerns raised by the Community of Rwandans in France (CRF) and others committed to preserving the memory of the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi. “Congratulations to all for your mobilization. Together, we will defeat hatred and genocidal ideology,” Gisagara wrote on his X account. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, also reacted to the move on X, thanking the Police Prefect for his decision.
