Carine Kanimba

Biography

Carine Kanimba is a survivor of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and the daughter of Paul Rusesabagina, who saved over 1,200 lives, as depicted in Hotel Rwanda. In 2020, her father was forcibly taken to Rwanda and unjustly imprisoned for opposing the regime. Carine led the #FreeRusesabagina campaign, securing his release in 2023 after 2.5 years as a political prisoner. Her advocacy came at great risk—Amnesty International and Citizen Lab confirmed her phone was infected with Pegasus spyware, allegedly by the Rwandan government. In 2021, she testified before the U.S. Congress and the EU Parliament, calling for spyware regulation. Carine received the Heroes of Democracy Award (2023) from Renew Democracy Initiative and the Global Magnitsky Justice Award. Featured in major media outlets, she now serves as the spokesperson for the World Liberty Congress, continuing her fight for justice, human rights, and global democracy.