Data from the National Commission for Demobilisation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation shows that between January and May 6, 2026, Rwanda received 159 former FDLR fighters, a militia group formed by the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Among those repatriated are six individuals who were part of a group of 317 Rwandans received on April 24, 2026.
The most recent returnees include a 56-year-old man and a 16-year-old minor, all originating from North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since early 2025, when the M23 movement took control of Goma, several Rwandans previously held by the FDLR have voluntarily returned, the majority being women and children.
On some occasions, individuals attempting to disguise themselves as civilians have been identified by Rwandan authorities. Such cases are transferred to Mutobo for civic education and reintegration training before being reintegrated into their communities of origin.
The repatriation of FDLR members has continued in small groups as Rwanda awaits the implementation of planned operations by the Congolese armed forces to dismantle the group, in line with a 2025 peace agreement signed in Washington, D.C.
As of June 2025, the FDLR was estimated to have between 7,000 and 10,000 fighters, with many of its senior leaders based in Walikale and Masisi territories in North Kivu Province.
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