Neutralization of FDLR: Rwandan Refugees in DRC feel they are also targeted

Consulting Rwandan refugee leaders in DRC about their views towards ongoing debate to neutralize FDLR.

Rwandan refugee leaders during our meeting in the office on Monday, with Kulihoshi Musikami discussing issues

On Monday August 10^th 2026 we held a two hours and half meeting with Rwandan refugee leaders in Kinshasa which focused on the current battle to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda known as “FDLR” fighters based in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Objective: To capture the views of Rwandan refugees in order to define our advocacy approach on the FDLR issue.

Background information

Their call for unity and to present others “remember we are in Kinshasa and we have to speak on behalf of all other refugees who are not here and who have no one to speak for them especially Rwandan Refugees in North Kivu and in South Kivu”

In 1994 millions of Rwandan refugees fled into Zaire (DRC) and they were in three (3) categories: Civilians, Former Rwandan Army (FAR) and Interahamwe (a local militia). Those with guns were not disarmed and refugees were left near the borders with Rwanda. In 1996 Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi launched a war into DRC which over threw Mobotu’s regime and witnessed massacres of thousands of Rwandan refugees. Some formed armed groups in order to resist against Rwanda, and in the year 2000 the FDLR was created with a particular objective to protect Rwandan refugees in DRC against attacks from Rwandan Army.

At first FDLR brought together FAR, Interahamwe and Refugees in order to provide security to others, currently most of FDLR members are refugees who were recruited in DRC who believe that in the absence of the United Nations and the Government of DRC it is legitimate to take guns in order to defend themselves and defend also other refugees against Rwanda which is deployed in eastern DRC.

Who are FDLR according to refugees

We are not fighters, we are not FDLR but when they come to track FDLR they also kill us and deport us back to Rwanda, however we should also know and make it clear that they are refugees who have guns in FDLR not because they want, not because they want to go to Rwanda but just because they want to protect themselves and protect others”

In our meeting yesterday, Rwandan refugees based their arguments on what the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs “all Hutus refugees in DRC are FDLR and should be neutralize”. They argued that as long as a refugee even these children who are born here in DRC and who know nothing about Rwanda, if they refuse to go to Rwanda, then according to Rwanda they are all FDLR. It is also observed in the communication of UNHCR and MONUSCO in DRC “ all these refugees who runaway towards areas which are controlled by FDLR they are all labelled either as FDLR or as family members of FDLR who should not be granted a refugee status but should be taken to Rwanda as combatants. Rwandan refugees believe that refugees in the eastern DRC will pay a high price, actually some who are under areas controlled by Rwanda are being deported in total silence of the International Community.

Previous operations against FDLR also targeted Rwandan refugees both those who are recognized and those who are not yet recognized, so they think this one also is likely to be the same. Refugees are wondering how they can be supported in order to engage the DRC Government on their protection in the battle focusing on FDLR, what makes them worry most are the officers in some institutions especially UNHCR and MONUSCO who are viewed as Rwandans and officers in CNR who are perceived as close to Rwanda.

The believe that the best way should be to make reforms in UNHCR and CNR first, then engage on a popular campaign to register all Rwandan refugees in DRC and grant them a refugee status and then put in place the three durable solutions (Resettlement to a third country, Local Integration in DRC and Voluntary Repatriation to Rwanda).   

Kulihoshi Musikami Pecos, the National Team Leader explaining to Rwandan refugee leaders issues about the refugee status and his view about refugees with guns. DRC and the United Nations failed to protect refugees that is why they went to the bush and joined FDLR, so we need to propose them protection and they will come up.

The meeting helped us to get all their views and now we are equipped to engage on advocacy towards the protection of refugees. We are not yet sure what DRC Government is proposing to FDLR, so we need to have all the details first in order to make out point clear.

Thanks