Mutobo Demobilisation Centre, Rwanda – 17 February 2026

Former members of the FDLR who have successfully reintegrated into Rwandan society have issued a powerful appeal to leaders of the Great Lakes Peace Forum, urging them to convey a clear message to fighters still hiding in the jungles of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: lay down arms and return home.

The call was made today at the Mutobo Demobilisation Centre, which hosted nearly 200 delegates of the Forum drawn from across the Great Lakes region, including around 140 participants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The delegation had yesterday visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda, deepening their understanding of the region’s painful history and the urgency of peace.

At Mutobo, the visitors listened to compelling testimonies from former members of the FDLR who described how choosing peace transformed their lives—directly contradicting the fear and misinformation spread within armed groups.

“We were told that we would be killed the moment we reached Rwanda,” one former combatant told the Forum. “Instead, we found dignity, security and opportunity. The country we once destabilised is the very one that helped us rebuild our lives.”

From Armed Group to Employer

One of the most striking testimonies came from Nizeyimana Wenceslas, who disengaged from FDLR in 2001. He told delegates that Rwanda enabled him to start afresh, eventually creating employment for more than 400 people through RUCOSEC Cooperative in Rulindo District.

“I am living proof that life after FDLR is not only possible, it is productive,” he said. “Please tell those still in the forests that peace offers more than war ever will.”

Another returnee, Ngiruwonsanga Jean Marie Vianey, recounted his journey from FDLR to serving in Rwanda’s national army, later becoming a respected local leader. Recognised for good governance, he was awarded cattle and leadership responsibilities, and is today a model entrepreneur.

“Good leadership changed my destiny,” he said. “Those still in armed groups must be told: your country is ready to receive you.”

“You Would Not Guess I Came from the Forest”

Mpakaniye Emilien, a graduate of the 75th intake at Mutobo, spoke of the profound change he experienced after returning home.

“Looking at me today, you would never guess I recently came from the forest,” he said. “That is what peace and good governance can do.”

He called for peaceful coexistence between Rwandans and Congolese:

“The time has come for us to live as neighbours—trading across borders, hosting one another as brothers and sisters. Peace in Rwanda is visible; it can become a shared regional reality.”

Women’s Voices: A Call to End Hate and Save Children

Women returnees delivered some of the most emotional testimonies. Mujawayezu Laurence, who left FDLR in 2003 after living in areas such as Masisi, Walikale and Rutshuru, said Mutobo restored her sense of belonging and identity.

“Mutobo made me Rwandan again,” she said. “It pains me to see Congolese civilians suffer because of FDLR’s actions.”

She warned delegates about the continued spread of genocide ideology and ethnic hatred within FDLR ranks, including the distortion of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

“I saw hatred being taught and history being falsified,” she said. “What is even more tragic is that some perpetrators of the genocide still find refuge across the border.”

Mujawayezu made a special plea to rescue children born in the forests of eastern Congo:

“Let us work together to bring these children back to school and to life. If some elders refuse to change, do not let the next generation be lost with them.”

A Message to the Region

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Gakunde Felix Francis, a representative of the Great Lakes Peace Forum, said the testimonies would shape the Forum’s future work.

“These voices will be a catalyst for our peace mission,” he said. “We will carry this message wherever we serve—especially through faith-based networks—to advocate for peace over conflict.”

The Great Lakes Peace Forum brings together religious leaders and traditional authorities committed to replacing war and displacement with dialogue, reconciliation and regional stability.

As the testimonies at Mutobo made clear, peace in the Great Lakes region is not an abstract ideal—it is a lived reality for those who choose it.

End.