Nearly 200 delegates attending the Great Lakes Region Peace Forum on Tuesday, February 17, visited the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre, where they held an open discussion with former combatants of the FDLR, a militia formed by remnants of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Members of US Congress visit ex-FDLR fighters at Mutobo centre The visit was part of a two-day tour of Rwanda. The delegation comprising of religious leaders, civil society actors, youth and women peacebuilders, began with a visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they reflected on the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than one million people were killed in three months. The peace advocates, some of whom are from DR Congo, got an understanding of how genocide ideology continues to destabilise eastern DR Congo and the region due to the presence of the Kinshasa-backed FDLR. At Mutobo, former fighters recounted their recruitment the armed groups, life in the jungles of Congo, and their reintegration journey. Laurence Mujawayezu, who left the FDLR in 2003 after operating in Masisi, Walikale and Rutshuru, described her return as a restoration of identity. “Mutobo made me Rwandan again,” Mujawayezu said. “It pains me to see Congolese civilians still suffering because of FDLR’s actions.” “I saw hatred being taught and history being distorted,” she said. “What is even more tragic is that some perpetrators of the genocide still find refuge across the border.” Mujawayezu appealed for collective action to rescue children born and raised in militia-controlled forests. “Let us work together to bring these children back to school and to life,” she urged. “If some elders refuse to change, do not let the next generation be lost with them.” ALSO READ: Former FDLR commandos, civilian dependants received at Mutobo Emilien Mpakaniye, a graduate of Mutobo’s 75th intake, said reintegration had transformed his life. “Looking at me today, you would never guess I recently came from the jungle. That is what peace and good governance can do,” he said, calling for cross-border coexistence and trade as foundations for lasting stability. For Wenceslas Nizeyimana, who disengaged in 2001, peace translated into enterprise. Through the RUCOSEC Cooperative in Rulindo District, he has helped create more than 400 jobs. “I am living proof that life after FDLR is not only possible, but also productive,” he said. “Peace offers more than war ever will.” The exchange between the peace activists and the ex-combatants also addressed allegations that returnees face persecution. Willy Mukumiro, representing Bishop Joel Amourane, president of religious denominations in North Kivu, acknowledged that many had heard claims that former fighters are imprisoned or killed upon return to Rwanda. “Now we have seen with our own eyes the reality of what happens, because this is the centre that receives them, and the testimonies we heard have greatly enlightened us,” Mukumiro said. “Hearing the testimonies of those who were formerly FDLR members themselves, and of the young people who spoke, some only 25 years old, makes us realize that what people say on the other side is not true. “The choice is clear, either live like an animal in the jungle, surviving on theft, rape and violence, or return home.” Mukumiro said. ALSO READ: Restoring agaciro: a visit to Mutobo Demobilization Center Delegates from conflict-affected communities echoed the urgency to address the issue of armed groups in eastern DR Congo. Dieudonne Mukunja Bikamiro, a community leader from Rutshuru, North Kivu, described how insecurity linked to FDLR and allied militias, including Mai Mai and Wazalendo, has disrupted livelihoods. “I have farms in places that are controlled by FDLR. I can’t till the land because of the insecurity,” he said. “They let you cultivate the land, and when it’s harvest time, you are ordered to give them part of the yield. You pay someone who should be the one paying you for your produce.” “I am currently displaced in Goma, hoping to return when security has improved,” he added, expressing hope that the lessons from Rwanda would strengthen efforts to challenge extremist ideology in his community. ALSO READ: Ex-combatants urged to promote unity, development Bishop Felix Gakunde Francis, speaking on behalf of the delegation, said the tour corrected misconceptions and strengthened their resolve. “Some thought Rwanda’s history was political rhetoric,” he said. “After visiting the memorial and hearing these testimonies, we understood the systematic nature of the killings and how ideology continues to fuel violence in our region.” He pledged that religious leaders would use their platforms to counter genocide ideology in the region. “These voices will be a catalyst for our peace mission,” he said. “We will carry this message wherever we serve, especially through faith-based networks, to advocate for peace over conflict.” Founded in 2008 by religious leaders from Rwanda and DR Congo, the Great Lakes Region Peace Forum has since expanded to Burundi, Uganda and Kenya. Despite regional tensions, its members say they remain committed to confronting genocide ideology and advancing reconciliation across borders.
