On 29 May 2025, the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission (RDRC), in collaboration with the Rwanda Cooperative Agency (RCA) and the Reserve Force, conducted a nationwide training programme for more than 120 cooperatives formed by ex-combatants.

This training workshops were attended by the top leaders of ex combatant’s cooperatives.  

The RDRC emphasised that forming inclusive cooperatives is a powerful reflection of the continuing role of former soldiers in promoting national unity, seeking homegrown solutions, upholding peace, and embracing a forward-looking mindset geared towards rapid development.

Photo: Participants from ex-combatant cooperatives during a session on cooperative governance and financial management in Nyarugunga, Kigali.

Notably, these cooperatives bring together Rwandans who formerly served in the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), the former national army (Ex-FAR), as well as those who were once members of armed rebel groups such as the FDLR and its affiliates. They also include civilians with no military background. Their collaboration within cooperatives stands as a living example of national unity, reconciliation, peace awareness, and shared commitment to sustainable development through inclusivity and cooperation.

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