A former FDLR commander Major Sébastien Nkundabose who is now a dean at Mutobo Centre where the 500 ex-FDLR combatants who repatriated last year are undergoing a three-month civic training says he repatriated to Rwanda after spending two years at Military Prison in Équateur Province in Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We spent all 24 years in jungles with no salaries believing that the Rwandan Government would hold talks with FDLR on sharing power. We always dreamt of coming back and conquer Rwanda but see; some of us have been brought to Rwanda by force. Those who think will get power in Rwanda through fighting, I tell them to stop those thoughts and the war doesn’t build the nation, it instead destroys it,” says Sébastien Nkundabose.
“When we arrived in Rwanda, we were warmly welcomed by officials, different from what we thought that we would be killed,” he adds.
Another ex-FDLR militant Balthazar Ndagijimana who was 19 years old in 1994 when he joined FDLR combatants came back to Rwanda when blind. He also says FDLR hopes of taking power in Rwanda remains a dream.
“That FDLR can take over power in Rwanda is merely a dream. FDLR strength reduced when Gen. Rwarakabije repatriated. He came to Rwanda with a large number of combatants with so much ammunition. We were stronger before but now FDLR was destroyed. Today, I think it is just a dream that they can come and overthrow the government in power,” he says.
“I realize it is impossible. I have been in FDLR for 24 years. I know FDLR enough. Taking over Rwanda is a just a mere say. When you have no ammunition, no army, it is impossible to take over the country,” says Joseph Kabarindwi, another ex-FDLR combatant.
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Deo Ndayambaje, 57, another ex-FDLR combatant was born in Nyamasheke District. He had a rank of lieutenant and he was the leader of Kanyabayonga Camp.
Ndayambaje says that they took long in DRC forests due to misinformation on Rwanda. He says among other lies they were told is as that Rwanda is now populated by only foreigners.
“Most of the news that reached us was bad and fake news. They said everyone back in Rwanda is killed while those who survive death are imprisoned. Even those who spoke to their family members were told either their property was sold or they were sentenced to imprisonment among other lies,” Ndayambaje recounts.
At Mutobo Demobilization and Reintegration camp, ex-FDLR combatants undergo civic training, entrepreneurship and other knowledge to help them adapt normal life.
At the end of the trainings, they are given Rwf180,000 of which Rwf60,000 is given before training and Rwf120,000 after rehabilitation as they plan for income generating projects back in their communities. Houses are built for ex-combatants with disabilities ad given a monthly stipend.
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