54 FDLR rebels repatriated from the DRC

RUSIZI – Fifty four former FDLR rebels were Tuesday repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Rusizi 1 border. Immigration officials said the rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda arrived at the border at around 5.35pm, after being repatriated by the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC).

Thursday, September 10, 2009
Some of the FDLR rebels who got repatriated on Tuesday through Rusizi 1 border. (Photo: S. Mugisha)

RUSIZI – Fifty four former FDLR rebels were Tuesday repatriated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Rusizi 1 border.

Immigration officials said the rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda arrived at the border at around 5.35pm, after being repatriated by the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC).

According to immigration authorities, the group includes 23 men among them 19 corporals and four staff sergeants, 17 women and 14 children, formerly living in the areas of Shabunda, Walungi, Karehe and Masisi in the north Kivu province.

Like the previous returnees, Staff Sergeant, Emmanuel Hategekimana, gave reports to the effect that there are many of their colleagues still trying to return back home.

"It’s really hard to get the means of getting repatriated because FDLR top officers are totally against the idea of returning to Rwanda,” he said.

The returnees hail from different parts of the country, including Gicumbi District, Kigali City, Muhanga District and the former Cyangugu prefecture now in Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts.

They were transferred to Ntendezi Military Transit Camp, from where they would be transferred to Mutobo demobilisation centre for orientation, before being resettled in their respective districts.

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