The Journey of Return: Françoise Musaneza’s Escape from Hardship in FDLR
Françoise Musaneza, now 45, spent most of her life facing hardship in the FDLR rebel group. Originally from Bungwe, Burera District, she joined the armed group at 17 in 1998, fleeing to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where she married an FDLR fighter.
Musaneza recalls a life of constant insecurity, as FDLR rebels often clashed with other armed groups and orchestrated attacks against Rwanda, putting the lives of women and children at great risk. “The frequent battles disturb our peace as women and as mothers. We’re left to fend for ourselves, barely surviving while our crops are stolen, and we often face starvation and a lack of medical care. Even the clothing I’m wearing now was a gift from a generous person when I arrived here in Rwanda; I had nothing left,” she explained. “Our lives were a daily struggle.”
She continued, “We lived as mere tools, providing temporary solutions to men’s immediate needs, without the respect given to any other woman. They would loot from locals, never even sparing a thought for us or their children. Medicines would be stolen, but no one cared if a woman fell ill, and hunger was our constant companion.”
Reflecting on her time there, Musaneza expressed regret for the years spent enduring these hardships. She observed that many women, like herself, felt trapped in a life of despair, running behind fighters with no hope of escape.
“There was no love or compassion. We longed to come home, but the constant surveillance and fear of torture if caught prevented us. We often dreamed of wings to fly back to Rwanda,” she said. “With the suffering we endured in those forests, if I had had a choice, I would never have stayed all those years.”
Debunking Falsehoods about Rwanda
When she and a group of 13 others finally escaped from FDLR and reached Rwanda, they were astonished by the warm welcome from the Rwandan Defense Forces at the ‘Kabuhanga’ border. “Upon arrival, they received us with respect, giving us a place to rest for two weeks. They treated us to good meals, smiling, lifting up our children, and giving us the confidence we never thought possible,” Musaneza said.
Musaneza and her fellow returnees went through reintegration training at the Mutobo Rehabilitation Center. As part of the 72nd cohort of former combatants, consisting of 39 people, including 32 ex-soldiers, two former child soldiers, and five support staff, they underwent three months of civic education, completing the program on October 22, 2024. The training instilled a deep commitment to leave behind any lingering negative beliefs and harmful mindsets toward Rwanda.
Lt. Munyaneza, one of the returnees, remarked, “I now realize how much Rwanda’s development defies the lies we were told about returning here. In all our training at Mutobo, we’ve learned about the immense work President Kagame is doing to build unity among Rwandans. We are committed to supporting him and moving forward with the country.”
Approximately 80% of the 72nd cohort were born in the forests of the DRC, as highlighted by Valerie Nyirahabineza, the Chairperson of the National Commission for Demobilization and Reintegration. She noted that many returnees arrive with little knowledge of Rwanda’s laws, values, or development initiatives, requiring a foundational civic education.
Governor of Northern Province, Maurice Mugabowagahunde, commended the returnees’ commitment: “Laying down arms and breaking free from anti-Rwandan sentiments nurtured in the forests shows a deep-seated desire for Rwanda’s well-being.”
Since 2001, over 14,000 former fighters from the DRC have been reintegrated through Mutobo, part of the 70,000 individuals successfully reintegrated into Rwandan society by the National Commission for Demobilization and Reintegration.
Musaneza Françoise grew tired of the harsh life women endured in the FDLR and decided to escape and return home.