Rwanda showcases reintegration centres for former FDLR militiamen

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have committed to drafting a peace agreement by May 2. But trust remains fragile. Militia groups who have been operating in the region are at the roots of some of that strain. Kigali continues to view the FDLR, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, founded by Hutu extremists in the early 2000s, as a direct threat to its national security. While Kinshasa had once committed to dismantling the group, it now accuses Rwanda of using it as a pretext to justify backing the M23 rebels whose offensive in eastern DRC has already claimed thousands of lives since January. Rwanda wants to show it can manage this FDLR issue by reintegrating ex-fighters into society. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Rwanda, Juliette Montilly, was given rare access to one of the country’s "Demobilisation and Reintegration Centres", where she was able to speak with former militiamen.

May 2, 2025 - 15:00
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Rwanda showcases reintegration centres for former FDLR militiamen
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have committed to drafting a peace agreement by May 2. But trust remains fragile. Militia groups who have been operating in the region are at the roots of some of that strain. Kigali continues to view the FDLR, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, founded by Hutu extremists in the early 2000s, as a direct threat to its national security. While Kinshasa had once committed to dismantling the group, it now accuses Rwanda of using it as a pretext to justify backing the M23 rebels whose offensive in eastern DRC has already claimed thousands of lives since January. Rwanda wants to show it can manage this FDLR issue by reintegrating ex-fighters into society. FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Rwanda, Juliette Montilly, was given rare access to one of the country’s "Demobilisation and Reintegration Centres", where she was able to speak with former militiamen.

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