From Jungle to Second Chances: Rwanda’s Mutobo Camp Reintegrates Former FDLR Fighters

Mbale Hafashimana Amos, a 37-year-old former FDLR fighter, fled the Congolese bush after watching comrades die of starvation and dehydration. Expecting to be killed on arrival in Rwanda, he instead found himself placed in a rehabilitation centre at Mutobo where former fighters are offered a path back into civilian life.

What Mutobo offers

Established in 1997 and set among lush, mountainous terrain, Mutobo has processed tens of thousands of Hutu fighters and their family members. New arrivals begin with a three-week "cooling off" period intended to reduce fear and tension, followed by roughly three months of counselling, history lessons and vocational training in trades such as plumbing, tailoring and hairdressing.

"They are very fearful because of the ideology they have been given. Progressively the fear is removed," said Cyprien Mudeyi, a retired army major who runs the camp.

Changing narratives and confronting fear

Many former combatants arrive profoundly mistrustful. Nzayisenga Evariste, 33, a former FDLR corporal, said the militia had warned him that Rwandans would force surrendering fighters into staged videos before executing them. "What we were told about Rwanda was all lies," he said after returning.

Visitors to the camp have observed groups of beneficiaries sharing candid accounts and singing about reconciliation and security. The programme emphasizes psychological support alongside practical skills to help returnees rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

Successes and ongoing challenges

Outcomes vary. Some ex-combatants—like Nzeyimana Wenceslas, 60, who left the Congolese jungle in 2011—used training from Mutobo to start businesses, including a security firm employing both Hutu and Tutsi former fighters, and to establish a farm. "It fills me with pride that I am not a burden to my country," he said.

But reintegration can be difficult: returning families sometimes find ancestral land occupied by others, sparking disputes, and many carry deep trauma that requires long-term care.

Regional context and controversies

The rehabilitation programme operates against a tense regional backdrop. This year the FDLR was driven to the brink as the M23 armed group seized large parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, pushing some FDLR units into areas where food was scarce. International agencies have reported evidence suggesting foreign support for M23, allegations Rwanda denies. Both M23 and the FDLR have faced accusations of serious abuses.

Critics say Kigali sometimes exaggerates the FDLR threat to justify interventions or influence in eastern Congo; supporters point to Mutobo as evidence of Rwanda’s investment in reconciliation between Hutus and Tutsis after the 1994 genocide that claimed around 800,000 lives, mostly Tutsis.

Back at Mutobo, Mbale — who was six at the time of the 1994 genocide — is learning new skills and hoping to rebuild. "I will try to catch up, because we were left far behind," he said, reflecting a desire shared by many who pass through the camp.