Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the film "Hotel Rwanda," has been released from prison in Rwanda following months of negotiations between Washington and Kigali. A U.S. government official and a congressional aide confirmed that no material concessions were made to secure Rusesabagina's release, who became famous thanks to the 2004 film that recounts his role in saving individuals from the Tutsi tribe during the genocide in 1994.
The U.S. official stated, "The American government made it clear to the Rwandans that this would remain a bilateral source of annoyance until a mutually satisfactory solution could be reached." Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo commented that the situation was "troubling in both directions." She added to Reuters, "After several false starts, progress began when the U.S. abandoned its 'pressure' approach and threats and decided to engage with Rwanda at the core of the issue and its context, which is political violence by armed groups and the security of Rwandans."
Rusesabagina was arrested in 2019 and later convicted of eight terrorism-related charges due to his leadership role in the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change, which attacked its armed wing, the National Liberation Front. His arrest strained relations between the two countries, as the United States indicated that Rusesabagina was detained unlawfully while Rwanda took a defensive stance against criticism, stating it would not be intimidated.
The film "Hotel Rwanda," produced in 2004, was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Don Cheadle, and was prepared with the real hero Paul Rusesabagina, which led to debates about the true extent of Rusesabagina's role in the hotel.
