Rwanda Welcomes 32 Former Armed Group Members from DRC for Rehabilitation

Musanze, February 25, 2026 - Rwanda received 32 former members of armed groups from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), along with 31 of their family members, as part of the country’s ongoing demobilization and reintegration efforts. The group was handed over by the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), under the Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Security (DDR&S) program, and received at the National Demobilization and Rehabilitation Commission (RDRC) facility in Mutobo, Musanze District. They will undergo early training to support their reentry into civilian life and social integration. The returning fighters include former members of FDLR-FOCA, CNRD, and Nyatura CMC, groups historically linked to the Genocide ideology. Most of the returnees are young adults aged 18 to 30, although the oldest is a 53-year-old woman, Odette, formerly part of the FDLR special forces unit CRAP. The group also includes more than 10 women and one child who had participated in Nyatura CMC operations. Since 2001, Rwanda has received 12,602 former combatants from armed groups aiming to destabilize the country, reintegrating them into civilian life. Authorities emphasize that Rwanda remains willing to accept individuals who lay down arms, though the DRC government reportedly continues to restrict returns, and the FDLR-FOCA still maintains 7,000 to 10,000 fighters, blending with civilian populations when threatened. The initiative reflects Rwanda’s ongoing commitment to peacebuilding, rehabilitation, and the reintegration of former combatants, contributing to regional stability and security in the Great Lakes region.