Allegations of political discrimination in Rwanda
24.9.2020
Question for written answer E-005242/2020
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Thierry Mariani (ID)
The Rwandan activist Paul Rusesabagina, the former manager of the Hôtel des Mille Collines, which sheltered more than 1 200 people from the Rwandan genocide in 1994, disappeared on 27 August 2020 in Dubai. He reappeared on 31 August 2020 in prison in Kigali, having reportedly been flown to Rwanda on a Greek airline frequently used by President Paul Kagame[1].
Vincent Lurquin, Mr Rusesabagina's Belgian lawyer, points the finger at the Rwandan authorities and claims that his client was unable to voluntarily return to Rwanda: ‘This is an abduction. He was in Dubai, they bundled him into a private plane, put him to sleep, and woke him up in Kigali. It was clear that he didn't want to go to Kigali at all; he had taken refuge in Belgium’[2].
The Rwandan authorities have stated that Mr Rusesabagina was arrested on ‘an international warrant’ and is accused of being ‘the founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits … operating out of various places in the region and abroad’[3].
Does the Vice-President / High Representative intend to make a statement on the many allegations of political discrimination in Rwanda?
.
- [1] https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20200920-depuis-cellule-%C3%A0-kigali-lopposant-rwandais-paul-rusesabagina-t%C3%A9moigne.
- [2] https://www.rtbf.be/info/monde/detail_arrestation-de-paul-rusesabagina-au-rwanda-son-avocat-entend-demander-sa-liberation?id=10581836.
- [3] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/hotel-rwanda-activist-paul-rusesabagina-kidnapped-from-dubai.