Paul Rusesabagina, "Hotel Rwanda" Hero, Freed From Prison

Rusesabagina in 2005, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George W. Bush (Wikimedia Commons)

Rwandan President Paul Kagame pardoned Paul Rusesabagina, the hero of the movie Hotel Rwanda, on March 24. To receive the pardon, Rusesabagina had to send a letter admitting his involvement with anti-government groups and accepting responsibility for their actions. He also agreed to respect Rwanda’s current political system and Kagame as president.

Rusesabagina is best-known for his actions as a hotel manager during the 1994 Rwandan genocide that saved over 1,000 lives and were depicted in the Academy Award-nominated film Hotel Rwanda. Since then, he has been a major critic of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, who has led the country since 2000. 

Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2021 for being part of a terrorist organization. His family alleged that he was kidnapped and brought to Rwanda against his will before being sentenced at a show trial denounced by the United States, where Rusesabagina has permanent residence.

In 2012 Rusesabagina founded a political opposition group, the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change. The group eventually formed an armed wing, The National Liberation Front (FLN). The FLN, which Rusesabagina denies supporting, has claimed responsibility for attacks in 2018 and 2019 in which nine Rwandans were killed.

Rusesabagina’s arrest occurred under mysterious circumstances. In 2020 Rusesabagina was in Dubai and boarded a private jet that he believed was taking him to Burundi; instead, the flight took him to Rwanda, where Rwandan authorities arrested him after landing. 

He was then convicted in what Human Rights Watch called a “flawed” trial which violated Rusesabagina’s right to a fair trial and showed clear evidence of political influence. Rwandan authorities monitored communications between Rusesabagina and his lawyer and did not give him access to key court documents. Rusesabagina and his lawyers eventually stopped appearing at proceedings to protest the violations of his rights. 

His eventual conviction and 25-year sentence caused major damage to Rwanda’s relationship with the United States, which gave more than $147 million in financial assistance to Rwanda in 2021. The U.S. Department of State declared that Rusesabagina was wrongfully detained, and members of Congress sent a letter urging Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to demand his release. Blinken brought up Rusesabagina’s conviction when he met with Kagame in August 2022.  

After his release, Rusesabagina returned to the United States, where he was reunited with his family.