Rwandan Government Releases Paul Rusesabagina

The Rwandan government has released Paul Rusesabagina, the man whose story was portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda, after he spent over a year in detention.

Rusesabagina had been sentenced in 2021 for being part of a group responsible for “terrorist” attacks, charges he denied.

He had refused to participate in his trial, which he and his supporters called a “sham”. Human rights organisations as well as members of the US Congress and the European Parliament had described Rusesabagina’s rendition to Rwanda as illegal under international law.

The US had designated him as “wrongly detained”, partly because of what it called the lack of fair trial guarantees in Rwanda.

Rusesabagina had been living in exile before being brought to Rwanda on a flight paid for by the Rwandan government.

His release was welcomed by the US Secretary of State, who thanked the Rwandan government and the government of Qatar for their assistance in enabling Rusesabagina’s return to the United States.