Minister Urges Former Armed Group Members to Rebuild Their Lives After Returning

MUSANZE, Rwanda, July 7, 2026 - Rwanda's Minister of Gender and Family Development, Consolée Uwimana, has encouraged former members of armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to embrace their return home as an opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to the country's development. Speaking at the inauguration of an Early Childhood Development (ECD) center at the Mutobo Reintegration Centre, the minister said the return of former combatants, including ex-members of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), marks the beginning of a new chapter focused on reconciliation, rehabilitation, and national development. The new facility will provide services for the children of former combatants undergoing reintegration. Uwimana said Rwanda's progress over the past three decades has been driven by unity, accountability, and a shared commitment to national development. She urged the returnees to use the vocational skills and support provided through the reintegration program to build stable families, pursue lawful livelihoods, and contribute positively to their communities. According to the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), more than 12,600 former members of armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society since 2001.