Rwanda Challenges MONUSCO Vetting In FDLR Demobilisation Dispute

Goma, August 1, 2026 - Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe said 81 people repatriated by MONUSCO as former FDLR combatants since October had later been identified as Congolese civilians with no Rwandan origin or armed-group record.

He said 69 of them told interviewers they had presented themselves as FDLR fighters to obtain benefits at the Mutobo demobilisation centre. Rwanda invited the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism to examine the cases and urged MONUSCO DDR staff to apply professionalism, rigour and integrity.

MONUSCO confirmed the return of 39 people but said it was neither present nor involved in their transfer back into the DRC. It also reiterated that DDRRR cases go through multi-step verification before Rwanda's demobilisation commission gives final approval.

The dispute followed the late-July return of 39 people through the Grande Barriere crossing after time at Mutobo. Returnees said they were Congolese, mainly from Masisi and Rutshuru, and disputed being labelled FDLR members.

They were received by AFC/M23 municipal authorities in Goma. Deputy spokesperson Oscar Balinda accused MONUSCO and Kinshasa of recruiting and falsely presenting Congolese civilians as FDLR, sharpening a wider contest over control of FDLR demobilisation narratives as Kinshasa advanced its Washington-framed protocol.