The second cohabitation lasts of 1993 to 1995. It makes following the legislative elections of the March 21st and 28th 1993 which reverse the political majority with the National Assembly. She is characterized by the two personalities of the President of the Republic, François Mitterrand, and of the Prime Minister, Edouard Balladur. She will be called “ the cohabitation of velvet ”.

Interior policy

Foreign policy

The management of the engagement of France in Rwanda

The second Cohabitation will be marked by the events of the Rwanda. When this cohabitation begins, the Opération Noroît is active in Rwanda since October 1990, and the Accords of Arusha are being negotiated. Following the signature of these agreements in August 1993, and sending of the Minuar by UNO with the Rwanda, in December 1993 the France completes to withdraw the forces of the Opération Noroît, but leaves, officially recognized, thirty to forty soldiers on the spot.

In 1994 at the beginning of the Genocide with Rwanda, France organizes an military operation to evacuate the French nationals and foreign, the Opération Amaryllis. The cohabitation does not pose a known problem on this subject.

During the Genocide, the France is very active diplomatically within the international community. At the end of the Genocide in Rwanda, it obtains the authorization of UNO to lead a qualified operation of humanitarian to the Rwanda, the Turquoise Opération. The development of this operation gave place to sharp debates within the French authorities, as well inside the army as within the cohabitation. The 21 June 1994, Edouard Balladur will send a mail of warning statement to François Mitterrand on the risks of skid néocolonial of this operation and the idea that it is made his humane objectives.