A total of 302 Rwandan nationals have voluntarily returned to Rwanda from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had been stranded in forests after allegedly being held by the FDLR armed group.
The returnees arrived in Rwanda on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, through two border crossings as part of an ongoing voluntary repatriation programme.
A majority of them, 285 people, crossed through the La Corniche border post linking Rubavu District and Goma City, while 17 others entered through Rusizi I border post connecting Rusizi District and Bukavu City.
The group that returned through Rusizi included three men, nine women and five children.
Welcoming the returnees, Rusizi Deputy Mayor Alfred Habimana encouraged them to embrace their return and actively contribute to Rwanda’s development alongside other citizens.
The repatriation exercise is being implemented under commitments reached during a tripartite meeting between Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 24, 2025.
The number of Rwandans voluntarily returning from DRC has continued to increase since January 2025, with more than 8,900 people having returned so far.
The returns come amid continued regional efforts to address the displacement of communities affected by insecurity in eastern DRC and support safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation.
