Hotel Rwanda - The African Mirror

Mar

2023

Freed ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Rusesabagina leaves Kigali, reaches Qatar

IMAD CREIDI and PHILBERT GIRINEMA PAUL Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in the film "Hotel Rwanda" about the 1994 genocide, has arrived in Qatar after being released from prison in Rwanda last week, Rwanda's government spokesperson said. Rusesabagina, a U.S. permanent resident, was sentenced in September 2021 to 25 years over his ties to a group opposed to Rwandan President Paul Kagame that has an armed wing. He was released on Friday after his sentence was commuted following months of negotiations between Washington and Kigali. Washington's historically close ties with Rwanda have been strained by Rusesabagina's detention and by U.S.…

Mar

2023

By The African Mirror

Kagame looking at ‘resolving’ detention of ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero Rusesabagina

NEWS

RWANDAN President Paul Kagame said there were discussions about "resolving" the fate of Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda" and is serving a 25-year sentence in Rwanda on terrorism charges. Rusesabagina was sentenced in September 2021 over his ties to an organization opposed to Kagame's rule. He denied all the charges and refused to take part in the trial that he and his supporters called a political sham. Washington has designated him as "wrongly detained", partly because of what it called the lack of fair trial guarantees. Rusesabagina has U.S. permanent residency…

Nov

2022

By The African Mirror

Hotel Rwanda: a film that proved to be a double-edged sword for Kigali

LIFESTYLE

PAUL Rusesabagina is perhaps one of the world’s best known Rwandans. His actions during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi were made famous in the 2004 Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda. The film was inspired by what happened inside Hotel des Mille Collines in the capital, Kigali. Here, 1,268 Rwandans, both Tutsis and Hutus, were saved from genocidal forces waiting beyond its walls. Author JONATHAN BELOFF, Postdoctoral Research Associate, King's College London The film depicts Rusesabagina – who left Rwanda in 1996 – as a hero who saved these lives. Following the film’s release, Rusesabagina received several humanitarian awards, including the…

Apr

2022

By The African Mirror

Rwandan court upholds ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero’s 25-year sentence

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRINGIYIMANA A Rwandan appeals court upheld a 25-year jail sentence for Paul Rusesabagina, who was portrayed in the movie "Hotel Rwanda" sheltering hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide, rejecting a bid to extend it to life in prison. Rusesabagina, 67, was convicted in September on eight terrorism charges related to the activities of an organisation opposed to President Paul Kagame's rule, and is being held in a Rwandan prison. He has denied all the charges and refused to take part in the trial, which he and his supporters have denounced as a politically motivated sham. He was not…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Hotel Rwanda’ film hero jailed for 25 years

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRIGIYIMANA A Rwandan court has sentenced Paul Rusesabagina, a one-time hotel manager portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood film about the 1994 genocide, to 25 years in prison after he was convicted of terrorism charges. Rusesabagina, 67, who was feted around the world after being portrayed by actor Don Cheadle in the film "Hotel Rwanda", is a vocal critic of President Paul Kagame. He denied all charges and said he was kidnapped from Dubai this year to be put on trial. His supporters called the trial a sham, and proof of Kagame's ruthless treatment of political opponents. "Rusesabagina…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Hotel Rwanda hero never joined rebels’

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRINGIYIMANA PAUL Rusesabagina, the ex-hotelier immortalised in the film "Hotel Rwanda", never belonged to a rebel group that sought to overthrow President Paul Kagame, one of the former rebels accused with him of terrorism told a court on Wednesday. "Rusesabagina was never a member of the National Liberation Front (FLN), he was a civilian ... He is not a soldier," former FLN spokesman Callixte Sankara told the court in Kigali. He said the prosecution had presented no evidence to substantiate its claim that Rusesabagina had given orders to the FLN, which has claimed responsibility for attacks in past years…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero says he was kidnapped and blindfolded before arrest

NEWS

Paul Rusesabagina Rusesabagina, a political dissident who has lived in exile in Belgium and the United States, was arrested in August after returning to the country. At the time it was not immediately clear whether he had returned voluntarily or had been coerced. "I was kidnapped to come here," Rusesabagina said in court in the capital, Kigali, as he applied for bail. "...They tied my legs and my arms and I was blindfolded." Prosecutors denied he had been kidnapped and said due process had been followed. "No one kidnapped Paul Rusesabagina...he was detained at a legally recognised place after being…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Rwandan court denies “Hotel Rwanda” hero Rusesabagina bail, extends detention

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRIGIYIMANA A Rwandan court extended the detention of "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina on Friday pending trial on terrorism charges and denied him bail, the judge hearing the case said. Rusesabagina, a political dissident who has lived in exile in Belgium and the United States, was arrested in August after returning to the country and subsequently charged with terrorism and other offences. "The fact that he is sick is not alone a ground to release him on bail," Theodosie Mukarugira said in a ruling via Skype. She said the detention would be extended by 30 days starting from Friday…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Family of ‘Hotel Rwanda hero’ calls on United States, EU and Belgium to help free him

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRIGIYIMANA THE family of Paul Rusesabagina, the former hotelier portrayed as a hero in a film about Rwanda's 1994 genocide, has called on the United States, the European Union and Belgium to appeal for his release from prison in Rwanda. Rusesabagina, a political dissident who lived in exile in Belgium and the United States, was charged with terrorism and other offences last month after he returned to Rwanda and was arrested in August. His case has attracted widespread international attention partly because his story of protecting Tutsi guests during the genocide was made into a popular Hollywood film. Rusesabagina,…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

‘Hotel Rwanda’ inspiration tells court he did not direct attacks

NEWS

CLEMENT UWIRINGIYIMANA PAUL Rusesabagina, the former hotelier portrayed as a hero in a film about Rwanda's 1994 genocide, told his terrorism trial that he had backed opposition groups but denied any involvement in violence. Rusesabagina - who was played by Don Cheadle in the movie "Hotel Rwanda" - was detained in August and charged in Kigali with crimes including terrorism, financing terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder. The 66-year-old, who has attended past hearings in a suit, appeared in court for the first time in a prison uniform of pink shorts and shirt, with his head shaved. He enjoyed worldwide acclaim…