WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI — A group of seven members formerly of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, (FDLR) returned home last week from DR Congo.

The group was repatriated via Rusizi 1 border post in Kamembe sector, Rusizi district by the United Nations Mission in DRC (MONUC). They were received by officials of the Rwandan Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (RDRC) in Rusizi.

This is the second group of former FDLR rebels to be handed over to Rwanda recently. Last month another group of 16 was handed over to Rwanda through the same border post.

FDLR is mainly made up of Rwandan fugitives responsible for the 1994 Genocide.

Egide Murenzi, the RDRC official for Rusizi and Nyamasheke districts told The New Times yesterday that the ex-combatants included one man at the rank of sergeant, five corporals and one private.

"On Thursday, May 8, we also received and registered another group of seven ex-combatants of FDLR rebels. One of them was a sergeant, five are corporals and one private,” Murenzi said at his office in Rusizi.

The ex-combatants were identified as, Yokonia Kanani, Moses Twigirimana, Sindikubwabo Nzaramyimana, Fulgence Habumuremyi, and Ramathan Ishimwe all at the rank of corporal. Others are Private Jean Claude Habumuremyi and Sergeant Faustin Nshimiyimana.

According to Murenzi, the group was repatriated from Kibua and Masisi zones, in the north Kivu province. They are former residents of the former prefectures of Butare, Byumba and Kigalingari.

The former fighters are currently staying at Ntendezi Transit Centre in Ruharambuga sector in Nyamasheke district pending resettlement.

But according to government resettlement policy, the group would first attend solidarity course at Mutobo Demobilzation and Reintegration Centre in Musanze district, Northern Province, before being resettled with their families.

Jean-Claude Habumuremyi, one of the returnees told The New Times that FDLR leaders in DRC had always frustrated their efforts to return. He noted the rebel leaders torture and even often kill rebels with defecting plans.

Ends