A total of 161 returnees were received in Rubavu District at the La Corniche border crossing, which connects Rwanda and the DRC. The group comprises 110 children, 38 women and 13 men. They had been living in different parts of eastern DRC before being taken hostage by the FDLR terrorist group and later accommodated in a temporary camp in Goma.

Upon arrival, transport was arranged to take the returnees to the Kijote transit center in Nyabihu District, where they will undergo short-term orientation and receive initial support as part of the reintegration process.

The repatriation exercise follows resolutions adopted during a tripartite meeting involving Rwanda, the DRC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 24, 2025.

One of the returnees, Nyiransabimana Ancille, 64, said she left Rwanda in 1994 and has now returned to her former home area of Mutura. She expressed readiness to rebuild her life and contribute to the country’s development.

After completing administrative procedures and receiving identification documents, the returnees will be supported by the government to reintegrate into normal life. Adults aged 18 and above will receive a reintegration allowance of USD 188, while those under 18 will receive USD 113. Each returnee will also receive basic food assistance valued at Rwf 45,000.

The government says the repatriation of Rwandans from neighboring countries remains ongoing, in collaboration with regional partners and international agencies, to ensure safe return and sustainable reintegration.