On Monday, August 25, 2025, a total of 532 Rwandan returnees crossed the Grande Barrière border post in Rubavu District, marking the latest wave of voluntary repatriations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In June, officials from Rwanda, the DRC, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) convened in Addis Ababa to discuss voluntary refugee returns.
At that high-level meeting, participants adopted a resolution calling for the repatriation of refugees from each country residing in the other. This commitment paved the way for Monday’s movements.
Upon crossing into Rwanda, the 532 returnees were transported to the Nyarushishi Transit Centre in Rusizi District for initial reception and support.
Earlier return groups and those arriving in stages are also hosted at the Kijote Transit Camp in Nyabihu District, where they undergo health screenings and share key information to facilitate family reunification.
Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary in charge of Emergency Management, Philippe Habinshuti, highlighted the country’s efforts to create a welcoming environment:
“The Government of Rwanda has implemented several policies that would lead to the creation of a conducive environment for the socio-economic integration of Rwandese refugees returning home from the DRC,” Habinshuti said.
He added, “We stand ready to work hard with concerned stakeholders to receive and effectively reintegrate returnees in the country, but we need more support to ensure the sustainability of these returns.”
As of May 2023, over 208,000 Rwandan refugees were hosted in the DRC, while an estimated 81,000 Congolese refugees lived in Rwanda.
Key obstacles identified include security conditions in areas of origin, lack of proper documentation, and disputes over land and property ownership.
The Addis Ababa meeting concluded with several strategic recommendations:
- Enhance information sharing on conditions in areas of return
- Clarify levels of assistance available to returnees
- Facilitate cross-border visits to help refugees make informed decisions
These measures aim to uphold safe and dignified returns while strengthening bilateral cooperation.
This cohort joins 1,156 Rwandans who returned earlier in 2025 after years in eastern DRC. Plans are underway to repatriate more than 2,000 individuals gathered in Goma at the start of the year.
Most returnees report coming back voluntarily, though some recounted being held by armed groups—including factions implicated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi—while displaced.
