Rwandan officials repatriated 39 Congolese nationals who had entered Rwanda falsely identified themselves as former FDLR combatants.

This follows a verification process that found they were not eligible for the country’s demobilisation and reintegration programme.

The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) said the 39 were repatriated to DR Congo on Wednesday, July 29, in the presence of media and officials from the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO.

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According to the RDRC, the individuals had presented themselves as former members of FDLR, an armed group formed by remnants of forces responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

However, a comprehensive verification process established that they did not meet the eligibility requirements for Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programme.

"The repatriation took place in the presence of media and MONUSCO officials following a comprehensive verification process which established that these individuals did not meet the eligibility requirements for Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programme,” the commission said in a statement.

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The commission said it would continue working with regional and international partners to promote accountability, regional cooperation and lasting peace.

Established by law in 2015, the RDRC is responsible for the demobilisation and reintegration of eligible former military members and former members of armed groups who are repatriated to Rwanda.

According to RDRC, more than 12,600 former members of DR Congo-based armed groups have been reintegrated into the Rwandan society since 2001.