Rwanda's Court of Appeal on Monday postponed a verdict in the appeal case involving Paul Rusesabagina, Callixte Sankara and 19 others allied to the MRCD-FLN militia group, who were convicted of terrorism in September 2021.

The MRCD-FLN militia group was blamed for 2018 and 2019 attacks in South-Western Rwanda, which killed least nine civilians and left many others injured and property destroyed.

Rusesabagina, who was the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda, was convicted of terrorism related charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He denied all charges against him.

Public prosecutors had asked for a life sentence and had announced after the trial that they would lodge an appeal.

Rusesabagina had refused to take part in his trial, dismissing it as being politically motivated due to his opposition of the Rwanda government.

In January, the court ruled that the appeal case could proceed in his absence.

Some of the other convicts had also lodged an appeal against their convictions, arguing that there was insufficient evidence.