A total of 341 Rwandans who had been living in forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have returned home, saying they were held hostage by the FDLR rebel group.
They were received at La Corniche One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Rubavu District on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after leaving the forests in the DRC, where they said the FDLR had prevented them from returning to Rwanda.
Some of the returnees said their biggest challenge was that anyone who expressed a desire to return to Rwanda was killed by the fighters. This reportedly left others afraid to leave the forests for fear of suffering the same fate.
Rubavu District’s Director of General Services, Niyibizi Hubert Ntabyera, urged the returnees to resume normal life and join other Rwandans in national development efforts, while rejecting divisionism and genocide ideology.
“You have returned home. Join other Rwandans in building the country by participating in government programmes. Leave behind the divisive practices you were exposed to there, because there is no room for genocide ideology here,” he said.
He also urged parents to prioritise their children’s education by enrolling them in school so they can acquire the knowledge and skills needed to improve their lives and secure a better future. He noted that some children had fallen behind in their education.
After receiving them, the 341 returnees were taken to the Kijote temporary reception centre in Nyabihu District, where they will stay as they receive assistance to reintegrate into society.
