Thirty-nine Congolese nationals who had entered Rwanda under false claims of being former FDLR combatants have been sent back to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) has announced.
In a statement issued Wednesday, 29 July 2026, the RDRC said: “The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) today officially repatriated to DRC thirty-nine (39) Congolese nationals who had falsely identified themselves as former FDLR combatants.”
The handover was carried out publicly, in the presence of journalists and MONUSCO officials, after a verification process found that the group did not qualify for Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programme. As the Commission put it:
“The repatriation took place in the presence of media and MONUSCO officials following a comprehensive verification process which established that these individuals did not meet the eligibility requirements for Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programme.”
The RDRC added that this reflects its broader approach to vetting such cases:
“The RDRC remains committed to a rigorous verification process in line with established procedures, regional frameworks, as well as collaboration with regional and international partners to promote accountability, regional cooperation, and lasting peace.”
The repatriation comes as the FDLR is once again at the centre of controversy, following Congo’s announcement that it had signed an agreement with the group aimed at disarming it, a deal Rwanda says runs counter to the Washington Agreement. That accord calls for the group, made up of génocidaires, to be fully dismantled, not negotiated with.
Dismantling the FDLR and returning its members to Rwanda are among the key obligations Kinshasa took on under the Washington Agreement.
Rwanda continues to welcome home Rwandans returning from the DRC, including former FDLR fighters, who are first taken through the Mutobo centre for reintegration training before returning to normal life.
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