Hotel Rwanda star appears in court
Publish date: 22 February 2021
Issue Number: 910
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General
The man portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood movie about the Rwandan genocide last week appeared in court at the start of his terrorism trial. Paul Rusesabagina's lawyers have denied the charges against him. BBC News reports that Rusesabagina is a fierce critic of Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, and was abducted by Rwandan agents in Dubai last year. While living in exile, he became the leader of Rwanda's opposition MRCD group which is accused of staging attacks in Rwanda. Rusesabagina who appeared in a Kigali court with 20 co-accused said he was a ‘Belgian hostage’ and his arrest, rendition and trial were illegal. The trial will resume on 26 February.
