Hotel des Mille Collines: Rwandan Genocide Shelter & Legacy

The Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda, became a critical shelter for 1,248 people during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Manager Paul Rusesabagina is credited with protecting refugees, though his motives remain debated. The hotel still operates today, and its story was dramatized in the film Hotel Rwanda.

In 1973, the Belgian airline Sabena constructed the first grand deluxe resort in Rwanda’s funding city, Kigali. The 4-floor resort has 112 visitor areas and three dining establishments. It was named the “Resort des Mille Collines” in recognition of Rwanda’s label, “Land of a Thousand Hills.” The hotel obtained worldwide recognition throughout the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 and the resultant occasions that took place there.

A Rwandan Sanctuary During Genocide

In 1973, the Belgian airline company Sabena developed the first grand deluxe resort in Rwanda’s funding city, Kigali. The resort’s short-term manager, Paul Rusesabagina, is credited with keeping the hotel open as a shelter, although debate continues over whether his inspiration was altruism or greed. Rusesabagina, that is of both Hutu and Tutsi descent, supposedly utilized bribery (using hotel money) and his connections with Hutu elites to secure the evacuees and resort team from carnage. The events were subsequently portrayed in the award-nominated flick, “Resort Rwanda,” although genocide survivors wonder about the verisimilitude of the film’s story.

Rusesabagina, who is of both Hutu and Tutsi descent, allegedly made use of bribery (making use of resort cash) and his connections with Hutu elites to safeguard the evacuees and hotel personnel from bloodbath. None of those protected at the hotel were hurt or eliminated in the physical violence. The occasions were ultimately portrayed in the award-nominated movie, “Resort Rwanda,” although genocide survivors wonder about the verisimilitude of the movie’s story. In the movie, American actor Don Cheadle plays Rusesabagina.

During the conflict, the Hôtel des Mille Collines became a shelter for 1,248 individuals seeking refuge from the violence. The refugees were both Hutus and Tutsis. The resort’s temporary supervisor, Paul Rusesabagina, is attributed with maintaining the resort open as a shelter, although debate continues over whether his motivation was altruism or greed. There were claims that he needed settlement from the evacuees for food and lodging.

Hotel’s Legacy & Current Operations

Today, the Resort des Mille Collines still operates as a deluxe hotel. It is an independent hotel property, and the federal government of Rwanda holds a 2.5% risk as a minority proprietor. Rusesabagina now lives in San Antonio, Texas, and is a long-term U.S. homeowner.

Understanding the Rwandan Genocide

Habyarimana’s death triggered Hutu extremists to target Tutsi and moderate Hutu leaders as revenge. The ensuing problem was among unimaginable violence that pitted neighbors against next-door neighbors and also member of the family. Remains piled up in the roads as Rwandan militias and military pressures carried out the systematic slaughter. The genocide finished in July 1994, when a Tutsi rebel team beat the Rwandan federal government pressures.

Over a period of 100 days from April 7 to July 19, 1994, an estimated 800,000 people, primarily members of the Tutsi ethnic group, were violently and horrifically killed by armed Hutu militias. Likewise eliminated were modest Hutus and Twa. The genocide was stimulated by the April 6 murder of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu. Habyarimana’s airplane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it prepared to land in Kigali. All on board were eliminated, consisting of Cyprien Ntaryamira, the head of state of Burundi.