A prominent opposition leader and a popular gospel musician, both imprisoned after angering the government of Rwanda, walked free on Saturday, after officials said that more than 2,000 inmates would be released.

President Paul Kagame and his government, which has a record of suppressing dissent and jailing critics, gave no indication what prompted them to free the prisoners, whose detention had drawn international condemnation.

The cabinet and the Ministry of Justice simply released terse statements on Friday night that Mr. Kagame had granted clemency to 2,140 people, and that the cabinet had approved.

[On May 16, 2020, Félicien Kabuga, one of the most-wanted fugitives of the Rwandan genocide was arrested just outside Paris.]