Rwanda has welcomed 326 nationals from 98 families who voluntarily repatriated from the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking another step in ongoing cross-border humanitarian efforts.
The repatriation followed agreements reached during a tripartite meeting between Rwanda, the DRC, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 24, 2025.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA), the returnees arrived in Rwanda on Thursday, October 30, through the La Corniche border post in Rubavu District, Western Province. The group, which included children, women, and elderly individuals, was immediately transferred to the Nyarushishi Transit Camp in Rusizi District for initial reception and support.
Before resettlement in their home communities, the government is providing starter packages to facilitate reintegration. Each adult over 18 will receive $188 (approximately 273,483 Rwandan francs), while those under 18 will receive $113 (around 164,381 francs). In addition, every returnee will be supplied with basic food provisions valued at 45,000 francs.
Since 2021, over 11,000 Rwandans have returned home from eastern DRC through voluntary repatriation programs. UNHCR reports that, as of August 2025, the temporary camp in Goma, North Kivu, was hosting 630 Rwandans awaiting return.
