Over 300 ex-combatants re-integrated into society

A total of 301 former rebels from various armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), were on Tuesday discharged after completing a three-month course in civic education and entrepreneurship at Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre in Musanze District.The ex-combatants included two senior officers holding the ranks of lieutenant colonel and major, four captains and six other junior officers.The ceremony attracted senior government officials, a delegation from the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the DRC and the Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission.This is the 44th group to undertake the course, bringing the total number of those re-integrated into society to over 10,000 former fighters.Presiding over the function, the Minister of State for Social Affairs, Dr Alvera Mukabaramba, urged the participants to effectively use the acquired knowledge to improve their lives.“It is important for you to transform your lives as well as lead the campaign of helping those you left behind to follow suit,” she said.Mukabaramba highlighted that in doing so, Rwanda will have fully proved her innocence over a U.N. Group of Experts accusation that it was arming M-23 rebels in the DRC.The chairman of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, Jean Sayinzoga, pointed out that many rebel groups had so far been integrated into society since the establishment of the Commission.He disclosed that some of them had acquired important life skills such as reading and writing.Sayinzoga urged them to forget all about the jungles of the Congo and participate in nation buildingThe first phase began in 2001 when about 2,000 ex-combatants were reintegrated.At the camps, ex-fighters are taken through civic education courses that include the country’s history, unity and reconciliation as well as major government programmes and policies.Lt Col. Etienne Mbarushimana was elated after his discharge. He regretted the many years wasted in the jungles of Uvira, adding that many of the rebels had been held back due to false propaganda.Clementine Musayidire, the only woman in the group, hailed the knowledge and life skills gained throughout the three months she had been at the centre.

National

Over 300 ex-combatants re-integrated into society