Hotel Rwanda’ Film Hero, Rusesabagina Face Terrorism Charges

Paul Rusesabagina, whose true life story of how he saved hundreds of Rwandans during the genocide in the country inspired a Hollywood Movie Hotel Rwanda, has been arrested on terrorism charges.

Rusesabagina was said to have hid people in the hotel he managed at the time.

The Hutu native, who became well known after the movie was released, is wanted for a score of serious crimes.

He has been accused of being the founder of the National Liberation Forces (FLN), ”an armed terrorist organisation” under his Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD).

Currently, the Rwandan Government is arresting and trying dozens of FLN members for war crimes and other violations committed on Rwandan territory including murder.

Callixte Nsabimana one of the FLN leaders is also undergoing trial in Rwanda.

According to the country’s bureau of Investigation, Rusesabagina was arrested “through international cooperation” after an international warrant was issued. He is now in police custody in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. 

Although, Rusesabagina has received  several human rights awards for his efforts during the genocide, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, he has not lived in Rwanda since 1996 when he survived an assassination attempt.