{"id":54230,"date":"2025-05-20T10:38:02","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/rwandan-returnees-share-stories-of-survival-after-years-under-fdlr-control\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T10:27:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T10:27:13","slug":"rwandan-returnees-share-stories-of-survival-after-years-under-fdlr-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/rwandan-returnees-share-stories-of-survival-after-years-under-fdlr-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwandan returnees share stories of survival after years under FDLR control"},"content":{"rendered":"

These returnees are now receiving care and support as Rwanda begins the process of helping them reintegrate into society.<\/p>\n

For many, this homecoming marks the beginning of a new life\u2014one filled with hope, dignity, and the long-awaited chance to reclaim the rights and opportunities they were denied for years. Access to education, healthcare, and security\u2014once distant dreams\u2014are now within reach.<\/p>\n

More than 2,500 Rwandans have expressed the desire to return voluntarily. The process is being coordinated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which receives the individuals in eastern DRC and notifies the Rwandan government to prepare for their safe reception.<\/p>\n

Though recently arrived, many returnees are already expressing optimism and gratitude after escaping the harsh conditions imposed by FDLR control.<\/p>\n

Valentine Uwamariya recounted the fear that defined her life near FDLR strongholds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey would come and abduct people. Some never returned. I remember someone named Dukundane\u2014they took him and killed him. We lived in constant fear, never knowing who would be taken next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Relieved to be reunited with her family in Rwanda, she returned with her six children and called it a second chance at life.<\/p>\n

For Marcel Nibishaka, a 31-year-old who was taken to the DRC as a child, life in exile meant growing up without education and in constant fear of abduction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey used to come at night to steal livestock and food. We always heard they were taking young men. I lived with that fear every day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so happy to be back. I thought I would grow old without ever seeing my homeland again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Japhet Mushimimana, another returnee, expressed deep appreciation for the warm welcome and support they\u2019ve received. \u201cLife in Congo was incredibly difficult. Even when we tried to raise cattle, the FDLR would take them. It felt like we were working for others. But coming back, seeing how Rwandans have developed and how well they live\u2014it makes me proud to be Rwandan.\u201d<\/p>\n

He admitted to initial worries about starting over in Rwanda, but those fears quickly subsided. \u201cThe way we\u2019re being reassured, and the peaceful relationship between government and citizens here, makes us feel safe. Life here is nothing like what we experienced before. We finally feel we belong.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added that what he appreciates most is the sense of security: \u201cBack in Congo, people could rob you of your phone or money at any time. Here, we\u2019re free, we\u2019re fed, we\u2019re treated with dignity. It gives me confidence that we, too, can live well and in peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Th\u00e9og\u00e8ne Inyitaho admitted that his view of Rwanda before returning had been shaped by misinformation and fear.\u201cWe were told we\u2019d never make it back. But seeing how we\u2019ve been received, and everything we\u2019re experiencing now, it\u2019s clear we have nothing to fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister of Emergency Management, Maj Gen (Rtd) Albert Murasira, reassured the returnees\u2014particularly those who had been hesitant due to fear of persecution. He stressed that Rwanda\u2019s goal is not punishment, but reintegration and healing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are safe here. We will help you reintegrate, learn new skills, and live dignified, secure lives,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/figure>\n
\"The<\/figure>\n
\"Minister<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A total of 1,156 Rwandans, previously held hostage by the FDLR, a terrorist group operating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have safely returned home in two phases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":2000087637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[72,75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-54230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-featured-news-home","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000087637,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/grvw_oyxcaaa7mx-ae5ef.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/62"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000087637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54230"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=54230"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=54230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}