After long years spent in the forests of North Kivu, four FDLR fighters have chosen to lay down their arms. Thanks to the support of MONUSCO's Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, Repatriation and Stabilization (DDRR-S) section, they were repatriated to their country of origin on June 11. This return to civilian life marks an important step in a demanding process they courageously agreed to follow.

Among them, Dukuze Obedi, a former member of FDLR/FOCA, fully assumes responsibility for his decision. After living many years in violence and isolation, he chose to turn the page, leave behind weapons, and rebuild his life away from conflict.

Along with his three companions and another independent fighter, they had surrendered at the end of May to MONUSCO's transit center in Munigi, in Nyiragongo territory. There, they were welcomed and cared for: medical care, psychological support, food, clothing, and preparation for return.

In close collaboration with the Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), led by the Congolese government, MONUSCO works daily to facilitate the reintegration of former combatants and militias.
This foundational work is essential for the lasting return of peace to the region.

Over the past twelve months, numerous ex-combatants have, like Dukuze and his companions, made the decision to leave armed groups and reintegrate into their communities.

However, this choice is not always easy. Dukuze recounts that he hesitated for a long time, discouraged by rumors that still circulate in the forests.

I address those who are still in the bush: MONUSCO is still there, he affirms. It continues to repatriate us. You just need to call them, they take care of the documents, and you'll return safely. What they tell you to dissuade you are lies.

Within MONUSCO's DDRR section, awareness campaigns continue among communities and combatants who are still active.

The repatriation process cannot be improvised. It includes many stages: disarmament, reception in a transit center, material, medical and psychological support, administrative procedures, then transfer to national authorities or to the country of origin.
This path does not erase the past, but it opens a door to the future. It allows families to reunite, villages to come back to life, and peace to take root in a region marked by decades of violence.

The voluntary return of these ex-combatants is not merely a personal choice: it is an act of peace, a concrete contribution to the stabilization of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A commitment that alleviates the suffering of civilians and eases tensions.

The story of Dukuze and his companions reminds us that another path is possible: that of reconciliation, reconstruction, and peace.