Operation Turquoise in Rwanda

A French flag flies from a Rwandan forces vehicle. At this moment, Rwandan soldiers were persuaded that the French had come to support the Hutu army, already in place, and brandished the French flag as a means to protect themselves. The whole of this series of images takes place along the route between Gisenyi and Ruhengeri, in Rwanda. Rwandan forces, primarily Hutu, paraded the length of the route. French Special Forces, the Commandement des Operations Speciales (Special Operations Command, COS), having recently arrived via Zaire, were tasked with reconnaissance in this same territory. Any encounters with the Rwandan forces were unintended. (Photo by THIERRY ORBAN/Sygma via Getty Images)