The Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) has announced that over the past 24 years (since 2001), more than 12,000 former combatants of the (FDLR) have returned to Rwanda from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
This announcement was made by the Commission on Thursday, October 30, 2025, the same day a ceremony was held at the Mutobo Rehabilitation Center to discharge and reintegrate former FDLR fighters back into civilian life. This marked the 75th such event organized by the RDRC.
According to the Commission, a total of 12,602 former FDLR fighters have voluntarily repatriated from eastern DRC to Rwanda since 2001, successfully reintegrating into the broader Rwandan community and contributing to the nation’s development.
In its statement on Thursday, the Commission emphasized that “this reflects Rwanda’s strong commitment to promoting peace and security in the Great Lakes Region.”
The FDLR rebel group has long been a source of tension between Rwanda and the DRC. The Congolese government has been repeatedly accused of providing support and protection to the group and using it to destabilize and using it to destabilize Rwanda’s security.
Eliminating the FDLR is one of the key points included in peace agreements signed by both governments in Washington, D.C. However, the DRC government has been criticized for its weak enforcement of these commitments and has at times even claimed that the FDLR no longer exists.
Maj (Rtd) Didace Mushimiyimana, a former FDLR member who defected three years ago and returned to Rwanda, confirmed that the group is still active and continues to harbor hostile intentions toward Rwanda.
He explained that many who remain in the group are misled by their leaders with false information:
“People are told lies that if they return to Rwanda, they’ll be killed, that there’s no freedom or rights. These falsehoods create fear and discourage people from coming back home,” he said.
Mushimiyimana added that once he crossed the border into Rwanda, he immediately realized that all those claims were false.
“I saw the difference right away. Rwandans welcomed me warmly at the border, and I was amazed by the level of development in the country. I realized Rwanda had truly progressed,” he said.
He further stated that because of the peace, stability, and progress he found in Rwanda, he quickly adapted and started building a new life for himself.
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