MUSANZE, Rwanda — August 26, 2026. — At Mutobo, the scars of war are not hidden. They are carried in the stories of people who once lived with armed groups, survived sexual violence and eventually made the difficult choice to return home and begin again.

It was into this world of painful memories—and renewed hope—that a seven-member delegation from Liberia stepped on August 26, seeking lessons from Rwanda’s experience in helping former combatants leave armed groups and rebuild their lives.

Led by Hon. Mamaka Bility, Minister of State without Portfolio in charge of Presidential Affairs, the delegation visited the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre, where it was received by the leadership of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), headed by Valerie Nyirahabineza, together with Commissioner Dancille Nyirarugero.

The visit was more than a tour of a rehabilitation centre. For the Liberian delegation, it became a close encounter with the human cost of conflict—and with what can happen when people are given a genuine second chance.

Rwanda’s demobilisation and reintegration programme has been designed to help former members of armed groups transition from military life to peaceful civilian life. At Mutobo, the delegation was briefed on how Rwanda receives and supports people who disengage from armed groups operating in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, providing them with rehabilitation, civic education and pathways towards reintegration.

But it was the personal stories that appeared to leave the deepest impression.

“A courageous decision to come home”

The delegation visited the Mutobo Early Childhood Development Centre, where children from returnee families receive care and support as their parents undergo rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.

The visit offered the Liberian officials a glimpse of an approach that looks beyond the former combatant to the family around them—particularly children who may have known little other than life shaped by conflict.

The delegation also met with women who had been associated with the FDLR and who had endured sexual violence and other forms of abuse during their time with armed groups.

Their testimonies brought the consequences of war into sharp focus.

Minister Bility was visibly moved by the accounts of women who had suffered sexual violence and, in some cases, had given birth to children under circumstances they never chose.

She told them that returning home was not a sign of defeat, but a first step towards reclaiming their lives.

“Choosing to return home is a courageous decision. It is the beginning of a better life and an opportunity to rebuild your future.”

She encouraged the women and other returnees not to allow the painful chapters of their past to define the rest of their lives.

“You have a future ahead of you. Hold on to that future, because it can be better. Continue working with your fellow Rwandans to build a better Rwanda.”

Her message reflected one of the central lessons of the visit: that reintegration is not simply about taking people out of armed groups—it is about giving them the confidence, skills and support to become part of society again.

From the battlefield to a new beginning

Former FDLR members who had laid down their arms and returned to Rwanda also shared their experiences with the visitors.

Their testimonies described the difficult journey from life in armed groups to civilian life, and the changes they experienced after returning to Rwanda.

For the Liberian delegation, these stories offered something that no policy document could fully capture: a human face to the process of demobilisation and reintegration.

The visit demonstrated how rehabilitation can turn a story of conflict into a story of recovery, and how a returnee can move from the margins of society towards a renewed sense of belonging.

The RDRC’s experience has increasingly attracted interest from delegations seeking to understand Rwanda’s approach to rehabilitation and reintegration. Recent visitors to Mutobo have similarly highlighted the transformative experiences of former combatants and the importance of supporting their return to civilian life. 

Lessons Liberia wants to take home

For Liberia, the lessons are particularly relevant.

The West African country endured more than a decade of devastating civil conflict, leaving deep social and institutional scars. Against that history, Rwanda’s experience offered the delegation an opportunity to examine how former combatants can be helped to leave violence behind and become productive members of society.

Minister Bility said the delegation had gained valuable lessons that could be adapted to Liberia’s own context.

“We have learned a lot from Rwanda. What we have seen here at Mutobo gives us important lessons that we can take home and reflect on as we continue our own efforts in Liberia.”

For Liberia, she said, Rwanda’s experience could provide useful perspectives as the country continues to draw lessons from its own history of conflict.

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