Major (Demob) Pierre Kubwayo, a former member of the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR), has shared his story of repatriation and reintegration into Rwandan society. Kubwayo defected from the FDLR and returned to Rwanda on October 19, 2021, after spending two years in a Burundian prison. He had fled Rwanda in 1994 during the genocide against the Tutsi population and joined the Burundian military.
Kubwayo's journey into the armed group began when he was a teenager. Born in the Musange sector of Nyamagabe district, Kubwayo completed his primary education in Kaduha and secondary education at Runyombyi school. However, his life took a dramatic turn in 1994 when the genocide against the Tutsi population started. He fled to Burundi, where he was recruited into the Burundian military, CNDD-FDD.
During his time in the Burundian military, Kubwayo received training from the FDLR, which promoted an ideology of genocide and hatred towards the Tutsi population. In 2000, he joined the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) military, where he was again exposed to FDLR's ideology. Kubwayo rose through the ranks and became a key figure in the FDLR, participating in attacks on Rwandan civilians.
However, Kubwayo began to question the FDLR's ideology and leadership. He noticed discrepancies between the group's rhetoric and the actions of its leaders. In 2016, Kubwayo joined the Forces de Libération Nationale (FLN), another armed group seeking to destabilize Rwanda. He participated in several attacks, including a 2018 assault that killed nine civilians in Nyaruguru district.
Kubwayo's life took another turn when he was arrested in Burundi in December 2019 and extradited to Rwanda in 2021. Upon his return, he was taken to the Mutobo rehabilitation center, where he received counseling and reintegration training. The program helped him to confront his past and rebuild his life.
Kubwayo expressed gratitude to the Rwandan government for providing him with a second chance. He has reunited with his family, including his wife and five children, who had been living in a refugee camp in the DRC. Kubwayo now lives in Nyamagabe district, where he is rebuilding his life and contributing to his community.
Kubwayo's story serves as a testament to the Rwandan government's efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former combatants. He encourages others who are still in armed groups to defect and return to Rwanda, where they can rebuild their lives and contribute to the country's development. Kubwayo's journey is a remarkable example of redemption and reintegration.
Key points
- Former FDLR fighter Major (Demob) Pierre Kubwayo returns to Rwanda after years in exile.
- Kubwayo's reintegration into Rwandan society was facilitated by the government's rehabilitation program.
- He encourages others who are still in armed groups to defect and return to Rwanda.
