The Court of Appeal of Kigali, in Rwanda, confirmed, on Monday April 4, the conviction of opponent Paul Rusesabagina to 25 years in prison for “terrorism”, thus rejecting the appeal of the prosecution which recommended a heavier sentence. .
The former hotelier and critic of President Paul Kagame, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on September 20 at first instance, found guilty « of having founded and of belonging » to the National Liberation Front (FLN), a rebel group accused of having carried out deadly attacks in Rwanda between 2018 and 2019. But the prosecution, which had requested life imprisonment against him, appealed against this verdict on October 20.
The Court of Appeal considered that « his sentence should not be increased », given that he is « a first-time offender ». « The 25 years he obtained are consistent with the weight of his crimes and the court maintains his sentence, » said judge François Regis Rukundakuvuga.
Paul Rusesabagina was absent at the reading of the judgment, as his family had warned in January, refusing that he participate « in the staging of the appeal of a political prisoner ». His relatives have always denied the accusations against him and accuse the Kigali regime of wanting to be behind his setbacks, while his lawyers denounce a « political » trial.
Rusesabagina, 67, is known for helping save more than a thousand people during the 1994 genocide. His story inspired the film “Hotel Rwanda”.
His arrest and incarceration caused the international community to react. For the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which had called for his immediate and unconditional release, his detention is « arbitrary ».
By OMA Newsletter N° 653 of 04/03/2022
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