The court’s ruling read on 20th September 2021 convicted Rusesabagina of terrorism charges and handed him 25-year jail term while Callixte Nsabimana alias Sankara, the former spokesperson for the terror group was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

The remaining nineteen co-accused individuals were sentenced from three to 20 years.

Following the ruling, the accused, plaintiffs and the Prosecution were given 30 days for appeal.

So far, the Prosecution has announced that it was unsatisfied with the court’s judgment and filed an appeal against the entire process in which the case was handled.

The judiciary spokesperson, Harrison Mutabazi has told IGIHE that 13 of convicts and 74 survivors of FLN attacks who sought compensation expressed satisfaction with the judgment separately and filed an appeal.

During trial proceedings, 94 survivors of the attacks sought over Rwf1 billion but the court resolved that few of them would get compensated and the amount was below demanded compensation.

IGIHE has learnt from credible sources that Rusesabagina did not appeal against the ruling. He had boycotted the court during trial proceedings citing zero expectation of fair trial.

The convicts faced charges including the formation of an irregular armed group, membership of a terrorist group, financing terrorism, murder as an act of terrorism, arson as an act of terrorism, attempted murder as an act of terrorism, and assault and battery as an act of terrorism.

The crimes were committed since 2018 when MRDC/FLN combatants plotted attacks to Rwanda which claimed lives of nine innocent residents in the Southern Province.

They left many others gravely injured, and caused significant material and economic damage in South-West Rwanda.

Thirteen convicts involved in the dame case with Rusesabagina have filed an appeal against court's ruling.