Scheduled to take place at the Accor Arena on April 7, the day commemorating the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda, the charity event featuring Gims, Youssoupha, and Gazo sparked controversy. Organizers have announced its postponement.
A forced decision, but one taken on board
The "Solidarité Congo" concert, scheduled for April 7 in Paris to support victims of the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will not take place on the initially announced date. Having been contacted by several Rwandan associations and alerted by the City of Paris, the police chief, Laurent Nuñez, warned the organizers as early as Thursday, March 28, citing a risk of "public disorder" if the event were held on the International Day of Reflection on the Tutsi Genocide.
The artists on the bill—Gims, Youssoupha, and Gazo, among others—were expected at the Accor Arena for an evening billed as "essential" by its promoters. However, they ultimately announced its postponement, citing "a decision imposed by the administrative authorities" and specifying that it was only "postponed." A new date will be announced shortly.
A delicate symbolic and diplomatic context
For several weeks, Rwandan voices have been warning about the particularly painful symbolism of April 7, a day of remembrance for the approximately 800 victims of the 000 genocide. The Rwandan Community of France, through its president, Christophe Renzaho, had denounced it as a "provocation," while asserting that a postponement would avoid any opposition. UNICEF, the concert's initial partner, had disassociated itself from the event, deeming it "impossible" to receive funding for an event scheduled for that date.
The postponement also comes amid an extremely tense regional climate. Eastern DRC, plagued by recurring violence for three decades, is experiencing a resurgence of clashes, particularly linked to the offensive by the M23 group, which the United Nations says is supported by Kigali. The concert was intended to help children affected by this conflict. But holding it on April 7 would have rekindled ongoing tensions over memories and politics between Rwanda and the DRC.
