Paul Rusesabagina, whose story during the genocide of the Tutsi in 1994 inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda" and who was arrested at the end of August in Kigali, thought of going to Burundi to participate in religious services, he declared. in an interview with the New York Times.

"I arrived here - it's a surprise," he said "with a small smile" to the American daily, which published a long investigation on Friday (September 18th).

At the end of August, the Rwandan police announced, to everyone's surprise, the arrest in troubled circumstances of Paul Rusesabagina, in exile in the United States and Belgium since 1996 and who, according to his family, would never have returned from him. even in Rwanda.

Detained in a "Spartan cell"

The interview took place this week at the central police station in Kigali, where Paul Rusesabagina - dressed "in an ironed blazer, a white shirt and shiny moccasins" - is being held in a "Spartan cell", says the American newspaper. .

"In reality, I did not come here," he told the newspaper, which notes his "calm" attitude.

Paul Rusesabagina arrived in Dubai on August 26 from the United States.

He spent six hours there before boarding a private jet that he believed to be bound for Bujumbura, the Burundian capital, the NYT continues.

“The plane was operated by GainJet, a charter company based in Greece and frequently used by Paul Kagame [the President of the Republic of Rwanda]. It touched down just before dawn on August 28 in Kigali, where Rusesabagina was was quickly arrested ", traces the newspaper.

Paul Rusesabagina says he was invited to Burundi by a pastor, Constantin Niyomwungeri, to speak in his churches.

"The pastor could not be reached. Rwandan officials say that Paul Rusesabagina's real goal was to go and coordinate with armed groups based in Burundi and Congo," the NYT continued.

In 2018, Paul Rusesabagina founded the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), suspected of having an armed wing, the National Liberation Front (FLN), a group considered terrorist by Kigali.

Critique of power

Paul Rusesabagina has publicly expressed his support for the FLN on several occasions, but his possible involvement in the rebel movement, which has already carried out several armed attacks on Rwandan soil, remains unclear.

On Monday, Paul Rusesabagina was charged with terrorism, murder and rebellion financing by a court in Kigali.

"Hôtel Rwanda" describes how Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu married to a Tutsi, in 1994 saved more than 1,200 people sheltered in the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, of which he was the director, using his influence with the militia. hutu.

After the genocide, he gradually became critical of the power of President Paul Kagame, accusing him of authoritarianism and of fueling anti-Hutu sentiment.

With AFP

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