A man who inspired a Hollywood film about the 1994 Rwandan genocide has been arrested for leading “terrorist movements”, officials say.
Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu, became well known after Hotel Rwanda depicted his efforts to save hundreds of Tutsis at his hotel during the 1994 genocide.
He later launched an opposition party, which had an armed wing based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed in the genocide.
They were killed by Hutu extremists who were forced from power by President Paul Kagame and his Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).
Mr. Rusesabagina, 66, has received several human rights awards for his life-saving efforts, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005.
READ ALSO: 1994 Genocide: Rwanda’s Most Wanted Man With $5m Bounty On His Head Arrested In France
He was paraded by the authorities at a press conference in the capital, Kigali, after he was arrested under an international warrant.
He had been living in exile. The authorities did not say where he was arrested or give any further details about the accusations he faces.
Mr. Rusesabagina’s name featured recently in a terrorism case in Rwanda. The court heard allegations that the National Liberation Front (FLN) rebel group had received help from Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu because of his close friendship with Mr. Rusesabagina.
Mr. Lungu’s spokesman denied the allegation in a BBC interview.
In 2011, Mr. Rusesabagina was accused of funding subversion in Rwanda, but no charges were brought.
At the time, he denied any wrongdoing and said there was a smear campaign against him.
President Kagame’s critics accuse him of not tolerating any opposition. Several opposition leaders have been jailed and others fled into exile. He says he is trying to prevent a return of ethnic hatred.
In 2007, Mr. Rusesabagina said a UN-backed war crimes court should put some members of the RPF on trial for their alleged role in the genocide.
“I’m just a normal person. But I’ve always defended human rights,” he said at the time.
“I’m trying to be the voice of millions of Rwandese who have no-one to speak out for them.”
BBC
