Jim Risch, a senator from the State of Idaho and a ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has lauded Rwanda for pardoning terror convict Paul Rusesabagina.

Rusesabagina, 68, is expected to be let out of Nyarugenge prison on Saturday, after President Paul Kagame decided to exercise his prerogative of mercy to commute his sentence.

"I am heartened to learn of Paul Rusesabagina’s impending release from a Rwandan prison. Throughout his nearly 31-month incarceration, I have followed his case closely and encouraged the United States and Rwandan governments to work toward a resolution,” read a statement by Risch, as posted on the US senate’s foreign relations committee website.

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"I commend U.S. and Rwandan officials for working together on Mr. Rusesabagina’s release and addressing the issues surrounding his case, including those related to justice and political violence. I look forward to seeing Mr. Rusesabagina return to his family, and encourage the U.S. and Rwandan governments to continue working to advance our bilateral relationship,” Risch said.

Rusesabagina will be released together with Callixte Nsabimana who calls himself Sankara, a fellow convict of the terrorism committed by the FLN, a terror group that was founded by Rusesabagina.

Rusesabagina engineered the establishment of an outfit called MRCD, which has political oversight of the FLN terror group that operates in the east of DR Congo, and is responsible for a series of terror attacks on Rwandan territory.

The attacks took place in south-western Rwanda, within and around Nyungwe forest. At least nine people were killed, while others were left injured and property looted or destroyed.