France has been accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda of minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

In an unprecedented hearing, the Paris Administrative Court began tackling a request from several survivor associations to examine the role played by the French state.

They are hoping to prove France’s tacit support of events through a defence agreement, illegal arms deliveries, and the abandonment of civilians.

Survivors are seeking 540 million dollars in reparations. Paris has been repeatedly accused of supporting the government in power at the time of the 100-day killing spree by Hutu extremists.

More than a million people were killed in the violence which only ended when rebels of the Tutsi-dominated Rwanda Patriotic Front – led by now President PAUL KAGAME – drove the Hutu army and millions of civilian Hutus into exile.