Over 790 Rwandans Repatriated from Eastern DRC
May 19, 2025 – The Government of Rwanda officially received 796 Rwandan nationals who had been held hostage by the FDLR rebel group in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The returnees, mainly women and children, were repatriated via La Corniche border post in Rubavu District, according to camp officials and the Western Province leadership.
Most of the repatriated individuals had been living in areas such as Kagusa, Katale, and Masisi in North Kivu since as far back as 1994 and 2003. Marcel Kagabo Nibishaka, one of the returnees, described life under FDLR control as marked by nightly raids where the group looted food and livestock, leaving communities in constant fear.
Valentine Uwamariya, who returned with her six children, expressed joy at being reunited with her homeland after years of separation from her extended family.
According to Dr. Oscar Balinda, Deputy Spokesperson of the AFC/M23 rebel group, the FDLR—working in conjunction with the Congolese government—used both money and civilians as human shields, forcibly preventing people from leaving conflict zones. He stated:
“The Kanyaruchinya, Mugunga, and Rushagara camps became centers of theft, violence, and terror, where Rwandan civilians were held hostage and exploited for political gains by armed groups.”
Dr. Balinda added that the current repatriation efforts are being led by AFC/M23 and are not part of the Congolese government’s formal repatriation program, despite a tripartite agreement signed on March 23, 2019, by CNDP, the Congolese government, UNHCR, and the Government of Rwanda, which outlined voluntary return for Rwandan refugees.
Just days earlier, on May 17, 2025, another group of 360 Rwandans had been repatriated. The initial group was settled in the temporary Kijote transit camp in Nyabihu District, while the latest 796 returnees were transported to Nyarushishi camp in Rusizi District due to differing capacity levels between the facilities.
UNHCR reported that over 1,000 more Rwandans currently residing in camps in Goma have expressed the desire to return home and will be repatriated in subsequent phases.
Rubavu District Mayor, Prosper Mulindwa, assured the returnees of comprehensive support under government reintegration programs, including access to livestock through the Girinka (One Cow per Family) program, vocational training, and various development opportunities they had been denied in exile. He emphasized:
“The hardships you endured are now behind you. Respect national programs, attend community meetings, and you will understand the country’s progress and its future direction.”
He called for children to be enrolled in school and for adults to receive training that would help them become self-reliant and initiate income-generating projects.
This repatriation effort marks a significant step in dismantling the FDLR’s reign of terror, which has long manipulated history and ideology to exploit civilians. With over 2,500 Rwandans already expressing a willingness to return, there is renewed hope and trust in the Rwandan government’s capacity to receive and restore dignity to its citizens.