More than 500 Rwandan refugees have been repatriated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Rwanda as part of a voluntary return programme supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, about 400 returnees crossed into Rwanda through the border in Rubavu District and were taken to the Nyarushishi Transit Centre in Rusizi District before being reintegrated into their communities.
Earlier the same day, another 108 Rwandan refugees, including 70 children, returned through the Rusizi border crossing. The repatriation process is being carried out under an agreement signed last year between Rwanda, the DRC and the UNHCR, which commits the parties to respecting refugees’ right to voluntarily return to their countries of origin.
The UN agency is supporting the returnees with reintegration assistance, including efforts to help them rebuild their lives and reunite with their families.