 |
Paul RusesabaginaRwandan, gained worldwide fame after the release of the film “Hotel Rwanda”
Date of Birth: 15.06.1954
Country:  Belgium |
Content:
- Biography of Paul Rusesabagina
- Conflict with President Paul Kagame
- Controversy and Response
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
Biography of Paul Rusesabagina
Paul Rusesabagina, a Rwandan, gained worldwide fame after the release of the movie "Hotel Rwanda," which was based on his memoirs and was nominated for an Oscar. He managed to save 1,268 civilians during the Rwandan genocide. Rusesabagina worked as a hotel manager in Kigali, Rwanda. During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, he used his influence and connections to protect 1,268 Tutsis from the Hutu extremists with the help of the Interahamwe militia. Currently, he lives in Belgium with his wife, children, and two adopted nieces. Prior to that, he worked as a taxi driver in Brussels and later started a company in industrial horticulture services.
Conflict with President Paul Kagame
Rusesabagina and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the former leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), became open enemies. In his autobiography, "An Ordinary Man," Rusesabagina stated that "today, a small group of Tutsi elites govern Rwanda according to their own understanding and interests. The few Hutus who hold high positions are mere puppets with no real power. They are called 'Hutu mercenaries' or 'Hutus on the run'." He also criticized Kagame's election as president in 2003, where he received 90.5% of the votes, calling it undemocratic.
On April 6, 2006, Kagame advised Rusesabagina to "find some other use for his talents and not try to climb higher on lies about his heroism, as it is a complete lie." Francois Xavier Nsengimana, the president of "Ibuka," an organization that brings together various associations of genocide survivors, stated that "he stole heroism. He traded the genocide. He should be judged." In response, Rusesabagina sent letters to Queen Elizabeth II and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, accusing Kagame of war crimes, including involvement in the assassination of President Habyarimana, as well as crimes committed by the RPF against the people of Rwanda. Among the crimes, Rusesabagina mentioned the burning alive of his brother and sister during the capture of Murama by the RPF in July 1994.
Controversy and Response
In 2008, the book "Hotel Rwanda or the Tutsi Genocide as seen by Hollywood" was published, with Alfred Ndahiro, an advisor to President Kagame on public relations, as one of the co-authors. In the book, Ndahiro attempted to portray Rusesabagina's actions in a different light than in the movie "Hotel Rwanda." Ndahiro accused Rusesabagina of being a spy for the Habyarimana government, forcing refugees to pay for rooms, and not being involved in their rescue. Rusesabagina responded to the accusations with a ten-page text, which was followed by further reactions.
