Rwanda on Monday received 532 nationals repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had been held under the control of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia group that blocked their return for years.
The operation, supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), brought in mostly women and children through the La Corniche border post, known locally as Grande Barrière, in Rubavu District.
Returnees described years of suffering in eastern Congo, where militia violence and hunger defined their lives. “We lived in very difficult conditions, always running from armed groups,” one woman said upon arrival. “There were too many militias chasing us, and we had nothing to eat.”
Another mother, who had fled Rwanda in 1994 and lived without identity documents for three decades, said insecurity had finally pushed her to return. “We are happy to be welcomed back and we believe we will live in peace,” she said.
Others recalled nights without rest. “We would lie down but never sleep because of the endless fighting,” another woman explained.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa said the group was immediately given food and assistance, as many showed signs of malnutrition. “Some arrived with illnesses caused by poor diet,” he said.
The returnees will be transferred to Nyarushishi transit camp in Rusizi District, where they will undergo medical screening, receive treatment, and start the process of reintegration. “At Nyarushishi, they will meet doctors, get health services, and be registered for national identity cards, since many have lived without documents for years,” Mulindwa said.
To help families rebuild their lives, each household will receive food allowances and cash support. Families are granted Rwf 48,000 in food aid, while individuals over 18 will receive $250 and minors $150.
Mulindwa encouraged those who returned to share their experiences with fellow Rwandans still in Congo. “They should not listen to lies that there is no peace in Rwanda,” he said.
The repatriation follows a high-level meeting held in Addis Ababa in June 2025, which brought together delegations from Rwanda, DR Congo and UNHCR to advance voluntary return programs.
This is the second large-scale return in recent months. In May, more than 1,100 Rwandans were repatriated from eastern Congo, where they too had been held by the FDLR, a group created by perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
