Paul Rusesabagina who inspired the 2005 Hollywood movie from his acts as a hotel manager during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi film has been sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges in a trial held in Kigali.
Rusesabagina, 67, was found guilty of backing a rebel group behind deadly attacks in 2018 and 2019 in Rwanda. However, he was not in court yesterday to hear his fate, was found guilty of taking part in deadly arson attacks in 2018 and 2019.
He had refused to attend court since shortly after the trial opened in March this year and claimed he was tortured and held in solitary confinement.
Initially he was hailed for his acts during the genocide 27 years ago. In the Oscar-nominated movie Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina, played by Don Cheadle, was shown as a hotel manager who managed to protect more than 1,000 people who had sought shelter at the hotel.
Some survivors have gone on to question the version of events in the 2005 film.
Living in exile, Rusesabagina went on to lead an opposition coalition, which had an armed wing – the National Liberation Front (FLN).
In the same case eight other convicts were sentenced to 20-years in prison and they include; Callixte Nsabimana Alias Sankara, Marc Nizeyimana, Cassien Bizimana, Jean-Berchmans Matakamba Emmanuel Shabani, Innocent Ntibiramira, Jean-Claude Byukusenge and Jean-Damascène Nsabimana.
