’Happy outcome’ as hero of genocide is freed from jail

Paul Rusesabagina, a businessman whose role in saving more than 1,000 lives during the 1994 genocide inspired the film Hotel Rwanda, has been released from prison after his 25-year sentence on terrorism charges was commuted. It was expected he would travel to the United States, where he holds permanent residency. Joe Biden welcomed Rusesabagina’s release, calling it a “happy outcome”.

Rusesabagina was arrested in August 2020 over his ties to an organisation opposed to President Paul Kagame’s rule.