TIMELINE OF PAUL'S PLIGHT

27th: Rusesabagina was kidnapped and was the subject of an extraordinary rendition to Rwanda. Believing he was going to Burundi, Mr. Rusesabagina was drugged on the plane, bound, and gagged on landing, and then held for four days in an unknown location. During this time, he was physically tortured.

31st:  Rusesabagina signed a statement agreeing to a series of incriminating propositions put to him by the Rwandan Investigative Bureau (RIB), in the absence of a lawyer.

18th:  First letter from U.S. Congress asking for Rusesabagina’s release.

21st:  Rwandan authorities start confiscating confidential documents from Rusesabagina after legal visit in prison.

12th:  Rusesabagina boycotts his trial after systematic violations of his rights.

14th:   Rusesabagina’s daughter, Carine Kanimba, attends a meeting with Belgian Forgeing Affairs Minister/ Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes with Pegasus active on her iPhone.

17th:  Independent trial monitors American Bar Association & Clooney Foundation for Justice report saying fair trial violations will call any verdict into question.

18th:  Second letter from U.S. Congress calling on State Department to ensure Rusesabagina’s release.

24th:  Belgian parliament resolution condemning kidnapping, torture, and solitary confinement calls for reparation.

20th:   Rusesabagina is convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

UK parliament APPG on Magnitsky Sanctions recommends sanctions against Rwandan officials on Rusesabagina case.

Paul Rusesabagina's family learns that Paul has suffered a stroke, or series of strokes, while the Rwandan authorities continue to deprive him of adequate medical care Health Deteriorates in
a Rwandan Prison.

The US Government formally designates Paul Rusesabagina as “Wrongfully Detained” pursuant to the US Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act.

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Carine Kanimba, Paul's daughter, had the honor and privilege of speaking at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Oslo, Norway, in late May, a global human rights conference that unites diverse communities worldwide to make the world more peaceful and free. Carine joined the stage for a conversation with Michela Wrong, a seasoned and respected journalist and author with three decades of experience covering the African continent. 

Daughter of Paul Rusesabagina, Carine Kanimba, testifies before the US House Intelligence Committee on Rwanda’s use of Pegasus Spyware to target US citizens and residents. Congressmen and women questioned the ongoing US funding of Rwanda, which targets democracy advocates like Paul Rusesabagina on US soil.

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The US House of Representatives adopts resolution H.Res 892, sponsored by Representatives Joaquin Castro and Young Kim, calling on the Republic of Rwanda to immediately release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

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Paul Rusesabagina's image appears in a memorial in Washington DC as part of the “Bring them Home” campaign, urging US Government action to bring home wrongfully detained Americans abroad.

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President Biden generated and signed the executive order. This order expanded and enhanced ways to address the hostage-taking and wrongful detention of Americans abroad but was also meant to deter hostage-taking and wrongful detentions around the world and strengthen efforts to bring unlawfully detained Americans home.

Federal Bar Association - Utah Chapter 17th Annual Tri-State Conference - Midway, Utah  

Carine was a keynoter discussing the campaign to Free Paul Rusesabagina with members of the Federal Bar Association, where she also talked alongside Former prosecutor David Schewendiman.