At least 214 former members of armed groups, including fighters from FDLR and its splinter factions, were discharged on Tuesday, March 31, after completing a three-month reintegration programme at the Mutobo Demobilization and Reintegration Centre in Musanze District. They are being discharged under 76th cohort of the reintegration and demobilisation programme. 178 of them are former combatants, while 36 are civilians who had been associated with armed groups operating in eastern DR Congo. The group includes 11 women. The beneficiaries voluntarily laid down their arms and were repatriated before undergoing the Pre-Discharge Orientation Programme, which prepares them for civilian life. The programme includes civic education, psychosocial and medical support, deradicalisation and reconciliation sessions, as well as basic entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and information technology skills. It also facilitates access to national identification documents and banking services, while reconnecting them with their families and communities. Beyond the discharge event featured a mini-exhibition showcasing businesses and cooperatives established by previously reintegrated ex-combatants, highlighting their contribution to national development and economic resilience. Claudien Nsengiyumva, Mayor of Musanze District, commended the discipline exhibited by the outgoing cohort during their stay at Mutobo and urged them to maintain it as they reintegrate into society. “Let us all work together to ensure the betterment of our society. As you return home, make sure to engage in community activities, including gatherings where we come together to discuss issues and find solutions,” he said. “Let the discipline you have acquired here, along with the skills you have gained, guide you as you reintegrate. Use the opportunities available in your communities to develop yourselves, your families, your villages, and the country at large,” he added. Valerie Nyirahabineza, Chairperson of Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, highlighted the role of the Mutobo centre in transforming former combatants by equipping them with essential skills and promoting national values. She noted that the programme helps participants reconnect with the concept of Ndi Umunyarwanda and abandon genocide ideology, which continues to fuel instability in eastern DR Congo. “Since its establishment in 2001, the Mutobo centre has played a vital role in reintegrating former combatants into society and supporting cooperative development,” she said. Nyirahabineza emphasised the importance of continued support to ensure successful reintegration. “In the past, they were influenced by genocide ideology and taught narratives in DR Congo that distort the truth about Rwanda, leading them to choose division over unity. However, through the reintegration process at Mutobo, they have been guided back on the right path,” she said. “We hope that if they receive a warm welcome from their families, they will become responsible citizens who contribute positively to their country.” Upon discharge, the beneficiaries will return to their respective home districts, where they will continue receiving reintegration support through collaboration between RDRC and local authorities. According to the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, more than 12,600 former members of armed groups have been reintegrated across the country since 2001. Officials indicated that over 400 additional ex-combatants are currently undergoing reintegration training at Mutobo.
