Rwanda: Ministry of Justice – Statement by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General (24.03.2023)

Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina letter to President Paul Kagame begging for a pardon (14.10.2022)

Rwanda: FDU-Inkingi – Communique de Presse (29.11.2021)

Rwanda: FDU-Inkingi – Communique de presse des FDU-Inkingi sur la condamnation de Mr Paul Rusesabagina (23.09.2021)

Rwanda: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Response to Statement by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium on the FLN Verdict (20.09.2021)

Rwanda: Rusesabagina and Sankara finally sentenced for their acts [of terrorism]

“The High Court Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes this Monday sentenced Callixte Nsabimana to a 20-year jail term for his role in several FLN militia attacks launched in the southern part of Rwanda” (The New Times (Rwanda), 20.09.2021).

“BREAKING: Rusesabagina has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for being part of a terrorist group that conducted raids on Rwanda, claiming lives of civilians, wounding others & looting properties. The 67-year-old is the founding president of MRCD-FLN” (The New Times (Rwanda), 2021).

Paul Rusesabagina and Callixte Nsabimana aka Sankara have been sentenced for their actions. Rusesabagina have gotten the most headlines and been seen as a “hero”. However, that is far from the fact and his actions after “Hotel Rwanda” should be treated as it is. Yes, the regime and tyranny of Paul Kagame shouldn’t be left behind or lost in the argument.

Still, these two gentlemen was part of an armed rebellion against the state. Both of these gentlemen participated in acts, which is easily to define as terrorism and acts of treason against the state. They participated in armed rebellion and insurgency in both FNL and MRCD. It is not like they we’re peaceful doves to Kigali. No, they used all means and arms to get their way.

Not like Paul Kagame acts with sincere or just means to his opposition. That is well known. Kagame and the regime has blood on its hands. Still, the sovereign should have the ability and use the Courts to stop acts like this.

They used proxy militias to try to overthrow Kagame. Yes, Kagame and the Rwandan Patriotic Army/Front (RPA/F) used the same means to take power. Nevertheless, the state is doing what is righteous. We know this is targeted against their enemies. Because, we know the Kigali government have sponsored and financed militias in proxy as well. Therefore, the state knows perfectly well how these are run and the persons who are sentenced should have known better.

I have little to no sympathy for these gentlemen. They acted with intent and means. Armed and trained militias for own personal gains. This would have made them powerful and the new regime. That would have been the case, if they had succeeded and ability to overthrow Kagame.

This is why they are sentenced and its well deserved. The ones praising and shocked that ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero is charged and sentenced. Well, they shouldn’t be… because his acts since then is vicious and sinister. He acted as another warlord and he got caught. That’s why he will be behind bars and pay the price for these actions. Just like Sankara did for his participation in the MRCD. Peace.

Opinion: Lurquin is a fool

“JUST IN: Rwanda has deported Belgian lawyer Vincent Lurquin for violation of his tourist visa. Lurquin showed up in court on Friday, dressed up in a lawyer’s gown, as one of Paul Rusesabagina’s lawyers yet he is not licensed to practise in Rwanda” (The New Times (Rwanda), 21.08.2021).

You know… lawyers and advocates are supposed to be smart. They are supposed to read the room and have knowledge of law. In such a manner, that they can win a case and come up arguments to “save” or “win” for their clients. However, the Belgian Lawyer Vincent Lurquin isn’t that smart or brilliant. His a man who thinks his above the law.

If this case had been in Belgium and a Rwandan lawyer came to represent someone. First, the lawyer would need the right type of Visa and be allowed to enter the Kingdom. Secondly, the lawyer would need to accepted by the bar and by the authorities to be authorized to work. Therefore, the Rwandan lawyer couldn’t just show up on a tourist visa and expect to work or represent a client in the first place. The lawyer would have to peel the onion of all the layers to be allowed to do his work.

The same would be in regard to Lurquin who was brave enough or dumb for that matter. To think because of his heritage, nationality and profession. That he could just walk into a court room in Rwanda and represent his client without the right working visa and secondly not be authorized by the authorities to do so. That just shows ignorance and blatant disregard for Rwandan Bar Association and legal system.

He could have gotten way out, but he didn’t:

“Advocates from foreign Bar Associations shall be granted the right to practice if need be, provided they observe the regulations governing the Advocates’ profession in Rwanda. The President of the Bar Association has the power to grant such authorization” (International Bar Association – ‘Rwanda International Trade in Legal Services’).

Seemingly, there are provisions and possibilities for foreign lawyers to practice in Rwanda. They just needs to observe and follow regulations following the Rwandan Bar Association. Just like a Rwandan lawyer would have to follow the regulations of a Belgian Bar Association. That is just how things goes and I have little to no pity for fools like Lurquin.

Lurquin should know better… he is just acting arrogantly and without jurisdiction. He was out of his zone and had no rights to practice as a lawyer. No, matter if his client had hired him or not. The lawyer couldn’t just show up in court and act supreme without any prior authorization or viable working visa. That just show his arrogance and ignorance.

That is a disgrace and wouldn’t be acceptable anywhere else either. It is stupid and dumb. That a man of his profession is acting this way. Actually, this is illegal and it was righteous to deported.

For a lawyer and a attorney he is surely not worth his salary. He should know better and before he put himself on the plane to Kigali. The lawyer should have fixed the formalities and also applied through the proper channels. Since, they exists and even if they are time-consuming. It is the right thing to do. Especially, when you are representing someone who is seen as a terrorist, treasonous and been supporting armed militias to overthrow the current regime. At that very moment, you should be more careful and consider all angles, as every step or move you do will be analysed. However, he was a fool and he thought he could get away with it.

I don’t even think a Rwandan lawyer could pass the airport in Brussels without the right paperwork. The immigration and clearance unit into Schengen area would restrict access to the person. If they believed the “alien” would practice law without prior paperwork and visa’s to do so. Therefore, the Belgian Lawyer is lucky that he wasn’t getting into more trouble. He was able to fly and even participate on Friday in Court without license. That says it all.

He is not that bright. This will not shed a light on the case and neither be a valid argument for the proceedings. Only show how one of the defence lawyers was in contempt of the court. As he didn’t even care to follow the practice or the regulations of set court. Peace.

Rwanda: Resolution by The Parliament of Rwanda on the European Parliament Resolution of 11 February 2021 on Rwanda, the case of Paul Rusesabagina (2021/2543(RSP)) – (15.02.2021)

RDC: FDLR – Declaration de Soutien de Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda – Pour les Mesures Entreprises par le Gouvernement du Burundi de Chasser les Envahisseurs Hamities dans le Pays (12.10.2020)

Opinion: Why are people “hailing” and “defending” Rusesabagina?

Well, in several of international and western publications, there been pieces of defence and of open disregard of this man’s action. Yes, Rusesabagina have held questionable company with motives to topple a government with the use of proxy arms. That is just a mere fact.

Paul Rusesabagina is a warlord in his own self and could be deemed a “terrorist” for his activities. That he has sponsored and connected various of armed militias in the Democratic Republic of Congo to attack Kigali and on Rwandan soil. This being through the FNL or MRCD. All of this with an effort to undermine and trying to get rid of President Paul Kagame.

Just because Kagame is supporting militias, using vile force against opponents and detains critics on the regular. Doesn’t equate to the righteousness of others to take arms and wanting to do a coup d’etat. I understand people want to get rid of their tyrant, their President for Life, but a peaceful transition should be the goal through civil disobedience and systemic destruction of society. In such a manner, which the revolution cannot be stopped and the forces against the man cannot be contained.

Alas, a military enterprise, a use of militia to do so. Is just a way of answering blood with more blood. There will just be another bloodshed before the dust is settled. The MRCD will only create new enemies and create another vacuum of force, as they cannot add to democratic values. Since, they would have taken over with guns and be similar to the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) which is at the helm today. Maybe, not with the same genocide and bloody war, but still they would have caused another civil war to get their way. That is all hypothetical, but still the end-game of gentlemen like Rusesabagina.

Rusesabagina with that knowledge shouldn’t be defended. They are calling him a humanitarian and is praising his role in “Hotel Rwanda”. Just because made a movie about you. That doesn’t save you from your sins. Yes, you did a good deed in the past, but in the present and lately, you have been associated and working with a violent aim.

Rusesabagina knows this and for some reason, some publications are eating out of his hand. Yes, Kagame is violent tyrant. He kills his critics, detains them and silence them. There is no denying in that and that his state is a vile attempt to use pressers to be called the “Switzerland of Africa”. The hegemony and peaceful plateau over the Great Lakes and the 1000 hills. Alas, we know that is lie.

Still, with that in mind. That doesn’t justify men like Rusesabagina. He is using the same tools, which Kagame employs in proxy and at home. When they are both hiring guns and doing the bidding of merchants of death. Then there is no peaceful return, there is no salvation and no way you can run away from the fact.

Rusesabagina is maybe able to influence the naive and the ones who is fans of Don Cheadle. His maybe even able to get a few lobbyist running a few miles for him. However, those stories doesn’t justify the means, which he was intending and using. The aggression and violence would only hurt civilians. One evil being answered with more evil will only cause more heartache and loss of innocent lives.

People shouldn’t hail or try to save the image of Rusesabagina. He has done this all by his own self. There is no need to salvage and spin the hurt. The damage is already done. The rest is just deflections. We need to be better than this and be able to hold two thoughts in our heads at the same time. Just because the regime is brutal, doesn’t mean we should accept brutality for its enemies as well. Because, how can we see the difference between who is good and who is bad? Peace.