Rwanda Receives Over 220 Nationals Repatriated from DR Congo

Rwanda has welcomed back 222 nationals who had been held hostage by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The returnees, mainly women and children, crossed into Rwanda through the La Corniche border post, which connects the city of Goma in the DRC to Rubavu District in western Rwanda.

They arrived on Thursday, November 6, 2025, where buses were waiting to transport them to the Nyarushishi Transit Centre in Rusizi District for temporary accommodation and reintegration assistance.

According to officials, the repatriated Rwandans had been staying in a temporary camp in Goma after being freed from various areas in eastern DRC where the FDLR had been keeping them captive.

Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa, who received the group, expressed that Rwanda remains a caring and welcoming homeland for all its citizens, no matter how long they have been away. “Even if you no longer have biological parents, your country is your mother and father. Rwanda will continue to care for you and help you rebuild your lives,” Mulindwa told the returnees. “Those who left behind property will be assisted to reclaim it, and for those who have none, the government will support them to start anew through financial assistance and economic empowerment programs,” he added.

Mayor Mulindwa emphasized that once the repatriated citizens receive identification documents, the government will provide starter support to facilitate their reintegration into normal life.

Each adult returnee above the age of 18 will receive US$188 (approximately Rwf 272,000), while minors will be given US$113 (around Rwf 192,000). Every individual will also receive basic food supplies worth Rwf 45,000.

This latest group follows another 326 Rwandans who were recently repatriated from FDLR captivity, adding to thousands of returnees who have voluntarily come home since January 2025 as part of Rwanda’s ongoing efforts to assist its citizens trapped in conflict zones across the region.