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Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge.
Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Paul Rusesabagina, a prominent critic of the Rwandan government, stated that Rwandans are "prisoners in their own country."
This is Rusesabagina's first public message since his release from a Rwandan prison in March after more than 900 days of imprisonment.
Rusesabagina expressed gratitude to the United States for orchestrating his surprise release, referring to his time in prison as "hell."
He chose to release his video message on YouTube to coincide with Rwanda's proclamation of independence on July 1, 1962.
According to Rusesabagina, Rwandans are still not free even 61 years after independence, as they remain prisoners in their own country.
He described Rwanda as an authoritarian government that denies its citizens their rights and suppresses dissent.
Rusesabagina's family reported that he was in poor health during his imprisonment.
His release was made possible due to pressure from the United States government, and Rusesabagina expressed his gratitude for their intervention.
He acknowledged that the U.S. government's involvement compelled Rwanda to face the reality of the situation.
Rusesabagina has consistently criticized President Paul Kagame as a "dictator" and his detention shed light on Rwanda's suppression of political dissent and free speech.
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