Magdalene Nyirabarigira is among 403 returnees from DR Congo who arrived in Rwanda on Thursday, April 16, through La Corniche One Stop Border Post in Rubavu District. Nyirabarigira, 79, breathed a sigh of relief after setting foot on the Rwandan territory after over three decades of hardship in conflict-ridden eastern DR Congo. ALSO READ: Small businesses offer hope to Congolese refugees in Karongi “We have lived a terrible life with no peace because of armed groups and ongoing wars,” narrated Nyirabarigira. “It was just survival in poverty. That’s why I decided to return after my brother, who came earlier, assured me that Rwanda is safe.” UPDATE: A total of 403 Rwandans returning from eastern DR Congo crossed through the Grande Barrière border on Thursday, most of them women and children. They will be accommodated at Nyarushishi Transit Centre in Rusizi District, bringing the total number of returnees from 2025... pic.twitter.com/TyuS7rdmOK — The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) April 16, 2026 Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa, another returnee, shared the same sentiments. “I have finally arrived home safely in Gisenyi,” he said with a smile. “For many years, I was held captive because I was a traditional healer treating malaria among both the Congolese army and FDLR members.” The Mayor of Rubavu District, Prosper Mulindwa, welcomed the group and assured them of government support for their reintegration. The returnees will be hosted at Nyarushishi Transit Centre in Rusizi District before being reintegrated into their respective communities. “You will be treated like any other Rwandan,” Mulindwa told them. “No one should feel like a refugee when their own country is safe.” Rubavu mayor added that government programs aimed at improving livelihoods will support the returnees as they rebuild their lives. ALSO READ: Rubavu mayor urges returnees from DR Congo to shun genocide ideology Data from the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) indicate that more than 1,600 Rwandans have returned home since 2026 under the ongoing voluntary repatriation process facilitated by the UN Refugee Agency.
