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The White House revealed on Wednesday that Paul Rusesabagina, an outspoken critic of the Rwandan government whose efforts to save people during the 1994 genocide served as the basis for the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda,” had arrived in the United States after being released from prison.
Paul Rusesabagina is returning to the United States, and I’m happy to greet him. Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser for the United States, tweeted, “We’re glad to have him back on US soil and reunited with his family & friends who’ve long waited for this day to arrive.
Rusesabagina was freed on March 25 after spending more than 900 days in prison thanks to the Kigali government’s decision to commute his 25-year term for terrorism-related offences.
His arrest brought attention to Rwanda’s history of stifling political dissent and free expression under President Paul Kagame.
After a trial that his supporters blasted as a sham, Rusesabagina was found guilty of supporting an armed rebel organisation in September 2021.
The 68-year-old, a dual US citizen and Belgian national, has deteriorating health, and according to his family, was tortured during his 939 days of incarceration.
Prior to that, US Vice President Joe Biden praised Rusesabagina’s release, calling it a “happy outcome.”
He said in a statement on March 25 that “Paul’s family is excited to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today’s good news.”
