Paul Kagame

KIGALI, Rwanda — After decades of wielding political, military and economic power across Africa, France is scaling back its presence on the continent as it faces significant resentment in many African countries. Yet one nation has emerged as an exception: Rwanda.

Rwanda's leader was in combative form in December when, on a visit to Washington, he was asked about his country's most famous political prisoner, and his personal foe.

No amount of US pressure could "bully" Rwanda, President Paul Kagame said, into releasing Paul Rusesabagina, the hotelier whose heroism during the 1994 genocide inspired the movie "Hotel Rwanda."

Rwanda's government has commuted the 25-year sentence of Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda" for saving hundreds of countrymen from genocide but was convicted of terrorism offenses years later in a widely criticized trial.

The family of "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina announced on April 30 it has filed a $400 million lawsuit in the United States over his alleged abduction and torture.

Rusesabagina is currently serving a 25-year prison term on terrorism charges after a trial his supporters say was a sham and riddled with irregularities.

"France did not listen to those who warned it of the impending massacre in Rwanda and de facto sided with the 'genocidal regime,'" Macron said during a speech on the genocide at the Gisozi Memorial Center in Kigali, where more than 250.000 Tutsi people were buried, Reuters reports.
But France, as Macron stated, "was not an accomplice" in the genocide.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov will take part in the "Africa - Europe" High Level Forum, which begins today in Vienna and will continue until tomorrow.

Rwandan spy chief Karenzi Karake arrived for a court hearing in London on June 25 after President Paul Kagame slammed his arrest on a Spanish-issued warrant as "absolute arrogance and contempt".

Rwanda's justice minister on April 8 welcomed France's declassification of documents relating to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which Kigali accuses Paris of having an indirect role.
      
However, Minster of Justice Johnston Busingye said Paris should ensure the documents released are "total."