The man who inspired the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda returned to the US on Wednesday after being freed from prison, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Twitter.
''I'm pleased to welcome Paul Rusesabagina back to the United States. We're glad to have him back on US soil and reunited with his family and friends who've long waited for this day to come,'' Sullivan said.
''I'm grateful to those we worked closely with in the Rwandan Government to make this possible.''
Rusesabagina, 68, was released last week by Rwanda after months of negotiations.
He was convicted on multiple charges in September 2021 including terrorism and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in a trial he boycotted for its lack of ''fairness'' and ''independence'” of the judiciary.
Rusesabagina inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," in which as a hotelier, he is depicted as having sheltered refugees during Rwanda’s 1994 genocide.
The 2004 film told the story of how Rusesabagina used his influence as manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali to bribe and convince military officials to secure a safe escape for 1,200 people who had sought refuge in the hotel. - Betül Yürük, Anadolu Agency
The African Union is calling for calm and restraint in Kenya following deadly protests by the opposition groups that saw deaths and rival gangs loot and destroy property.
AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “deep concern” at violence that led to deaths and what he called interruption of certain economic activities in Nairobi and other cities in the country where supporters of opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition led by their leader Raila Odinga were protesting.
“The Chairperson urges all stakeholders to exercise calm and engage in dialogue to address any differences that may exist in the supreme interest of national unity and reconciliation,” Faki said.
“In this regard, the Chairperson wishes to recall the successful conduct of General Elections in August 2022 in Kenya and the subsequent unanimous confirmation of the election outcome by the Supreme Court.”
Mr Odinga’s supporters poured into the streets for the second week, protesting against the high cost of living and what they say is inherent opaqueness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which Mr Odinga accuses of rigging him out of last year’s presidential poll in favour of eventual winner William Ruto. Dr Ruto’s victory was, however, confirmed by the Supreme Court in September after describing Odinga’s evidence as “hot air”.
But Odinga has argued new evidence proved he had been rigged out and demanded action by the Commission to open up their servers.
Total support
The AU boss called for dialogue but also expressed total support for the Kenyan government. The AU observers had endorsed the election outcome last year.
“In this regard, the Chairperson wishes to recall the successful conduct of General Elections in August 2022 in Kenya and the subsequent unanimous confirmation of the election outcome by the Supreme Court.”
The protests turned deadly after two people were shot dead in Kisumu while goons attacked the property of Mr Odinga and his ally, former president Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyatta’s farm was torched as goons looted his livestock and cut down trees. - AGGREY MUTAMBO, The EastAfrican
Angry protestors have clashed in Torquay as anti-migrant groups gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the Cornish resort town. Police are attempting to jeep the rival protests apart outside the hotel as the two sides confront each other across the barriers.
DailymotionAnti-fascist demonstrators barricade Newquay asylum-seeker hotel as far-right threaten protest/Photo Courtesy
Anti-fascist activists clad in black were observed towards the crowd of anti-migrant protests, and officers had to use physical force to keep them apart.
According to CornwallLive, four counter-protesters were removed by the police after allegedly attacking a protester who was against asylum seekers.
Devon and Cornwall Police have yet to confirm any arrests or individuals being taken away when approached by CornwallLive.
The violence is reported to have broken out at around 1pm with counter-protesters clashing with officers in front of the Beresford Hotel as they tried to break through police lines to reach those protesting the housing of asylum seekers in the town.
As the groups clashed a local woman was reportedly shoved and knocked to the ground by a member of the anti-fascist black bloc group gathered on the street.
CornwallLive reported the culprit and then disappeared into the crowd.
The victim was approached but did not wish to speak about the incident.
Earlier some 50 protesters where reported to have gathered to demonstrate against the asylum seeker hotel while 150 people turned out to counter-protest.
The Beresford Hotel in Newquay was surrounded by a large number of police officers who have erected two barriers to separate the anti-asylum seeker protesters from the counter-protesters.
Pro and anti-migrant activists were located approximately ten meters apart and are currently shouting and chanting at each other.
Meanwhile, Narrowcliff was blocked, preventing traffic from passing through.
A woman from the group opposed to refugees told CornwallLive: "We are standing here peacefully. They took the road, which is legal. They are pushing their way through.
"There's two homeless men in the shelter you can see from here who have nothing. They are doing everything in that shelter. They've been to the council for help and got refused.
"We have people here getting everything paid for and humiliating our government by complaining that it's disgraceful. Everybody has a right to complain.
"We're protesting but not allowed to have our say. We're not listened to.
The supporters of asylum seekers could be heard chanting slogan such as "You know you're terrible", "Anti-fascists", "We welcome refugees here", and "Refugees are welcome from the Tamar to the sea".
On the other hand, the opposition demonstrators responded by shouting phrases like "They're not refugees, they're migrants. They abandoned their families", "Why are you hiding your faces, you communists?",
"Are you hiding because of your acne?", "Communists are supporting illegal immigrants who left their families behind", and "Masked communists are supporting illegal immigrants who managed to come here by deceiving others and leaving their families behind," according to Cornwall Live. by Tim McNulty, Greg Martin, Charlotte B, Daily Express
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