Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change

The Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (French: Mouvement Rwandais pour la Changement Démocratique, normally abbreviated MRCD or MRCD/FLN), is a coalition of Rwandan opposition groups who mostly reside in the diaspora or in exile.[1][2]

MRCD (Mouvement Rwandais pour le Changement Démocratique)
LeaderPaul Rusesabagina
Founded2012
Website
https://mrcd-ubumwe.org/

The movement is led by Paul Rusesabagina, a notable Rwandan activist, whose story forms the basis of the critically-acclaimed Hollywood film: Hotel Rwanda.[3][4]

History

The National Liberation Front (FLN) is the armed wing of political party PDR-Ihumure and the MRCD. In 2018, the group claimed responsibility for two terror attacks in Nyabimata, South-West Rwanda, near the border with Burundi.[5][6]

2021 Terror Trial

In 2021, 21 members of the MRCD/FLN, including Rusesabagina and former spokesperson Callixte Nsabimana (also known as "Sankara"), were put on trial in Kigali in relation to thes Nyabimata attacks.[7][8][9] The trial received widespread international attention as a result of the high profile of Rusesabagina and the dubious circumstances leading to his arrest.[10] On 20 September 2021, the judge convicted all of the 21 defendants. Paul Rusesabagina received the longest sentence, of 25 years. Eight members, including Nsabimana received a sentence of 20 years, while other defendants were all sentenced to at least 3 years of prison time.[11][12] It is unclear whether the MRCD is resuming operations as a political coalition.

References
  1. Uwiringiyimana, Clement (2020-10-05). "Rwanda seeks to merge 'Hotel Rwanda' hero's case with that of 18 rebel suspects". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  2. "Rwanda: Rusesabagina Was Forcibly Disappeared". Human Rights Watch. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  3. Franco-Rwandaise, La Tribune. "Allocution de M. Paul Rusesabagina à l'occasion des assises d'évaluation du parti PDR-IHUMURE". LA TRIBUNE FRANCO-RWANDAISE (in French). Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  4. "Rwandan court starts trial against prototype of character in "Hotel Rwanda" - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  5. "Victims of MRCD-FLN attacks in southern Rwanda". The New Times | Rwanda. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  6. "MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Rwanda, the case of Paul Rusesabagina". www.europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  7. Uwiringiyimana, Clement (2020-10-05). "Rwanda seeks to merge 'Hotel Rwanda' hero's case with that of 18 rebel suspects". Reuters. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  8. "Rwandan court starts trial against prototype of character in "Hotel Rwanda" - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  9. "What happened on the first day of the Rusesabagina trial?". www.rwandafacts.com. Retrieved 2021-04-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. "Paul Rusesabagina: Hotel Rwanda hero charged with terrorism". BBC News. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  11. "Who got what sentence in the FLN trial?". The New Times | Rwanda. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  12. Stephanie Busari and Nina Avramova. "Paul Rusesabagina of 'Hotel Rwanda' fame sentenced to 25 years on terrorism charges". CNN. Retrieved 2021-10-04.


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