Paul Rusesabagina, the man whose role in saving people from the Rwandan genocide was celebrated in the film Hotel Rwanda, has been arrested on terror charges.
Rusesabagina was arrested and detained abroad where he has been on exile.
The Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) it Rusesabagina, who is suspected to be the founder, leader, sponsor and member of ‘National Liberation Forces (FLN)’, an armed terrorist organisation under his Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD).
According to the RIB, Rusesabagina was subject of an International Arrest Warrant for alleged terrorism, arson, kidnap and murder, perpetrated against civilians on Rwandan territory.
RIB added that the 66-year-old was behind several attacks including one in Nyabimata – Nyaruguru District in June 2018 and in Nyungwe – Nyamagabe District in December 2018.
Rusesabagina is being held at the Remera Police Station.
Mr Rusesabagina, 66, was awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, among other human rights awards.
He has not commented on the current charges but has long been a critic of the Rwandan government.
In 2011, he was accused of funding subversion in Rwanda, but no charges were brought.
At the time, Mr Rusesabagina denied the accusation and said there was a smear campaign against him.
The 2004 film Hotel Rwanda told the story of how Mr Rusesabagina, a middle-class Hutu married to a Tutsi, used his influence – and bribes – to convince military officials to secure a safe escape for the estimated 1,200 people who sought shelter at the Mille Collines Hotel in Kigali.
Rwandan genocide survivors’ group Ibuka has in the past said that he exaggerated his own role in helping hotel refugees escape the 100-day slaughter in 1994.