Rwandan authorities on Monday welcomed 796 nationals who were repatriated from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had been held for years by the FDLR militia.
The group, largely composed of women and children, arrived at the Grande Barrière border crossing in Rubavu District. Their return was facilitated by the M23/AFC rebels, who have recently taken control of parts of North and South Kivu provinces in eastern DRC. This marks the second such group to return, following the repatriation of 360 Rwandans over the weekend.
According to officials overseeing the reintegration process, the returnees had been living under the control of the FDLR—a militia group made up of remnants of those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Many of them were held against their will and denied basic rights for years.
Welcoming the group, Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa commended the returnees for choosing to come back to Rwanda. “We thank you for making the decision to return home. In Rwanda, all citizens are treated equally,” he said.
The returnees were immediately transported to the Nyarushishi Transit Camp in Rusizi District, where they will receive temporary shelter, documentation, and reintegration support.
“The country is peaceful. Your communities will welcome you without discrimination,” Mulindwa assured them. “Your children will return to school, and you will be issued national identity cards and other essential documents.”
The government has pledged continued support for the reintegration of all returnees, with emphasis on education, healthcare, and access to social services.