In a remarkable turn of events, hundreds of Congolese refugees are making their way back home, crossing from Rwanda into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This morning alone, in just three hours, 550 people returned, marking a significant shift in the ongoing crisis in eastern Congo.
Speaking at the Rusizi-Bukavu border, Lawrence Kanyuka, the spokesman for the AFC-M23 movement, welcomed the return of his compatriots and sent a strong message to the Kinshasa government.
“We thank the Congolese people for returning home to tell the Kinshasa regime to stop killing our brothers and sisters. They should leave office,” Kanyuka stated.
The situation in Bukavu, once tense and uncertain, has now stabilized under M23 control. With peace returning to the city, many who previously fled the DRC seeking refuge in Rwanda from violence, looting, and instability caused by government forces and their allies are choosing to return.
“Peace has returned to Bukavu, and many of our compatriots who fled Congo to Rwanda, running away from the looting by the DRC forces and allies, are now returning,” Kanyuka added.
The images of men, women, and children crossing the border with relief etched on their faces stand in stark contrast to the years of displacement they endured. Many had fled to Rwanda for safety, escaping massacres, militia attacks, and targeted persecution. Now, with the tide turning, they are reclaiming their right to live on Congolese soil.
The return of refugees is a symbolic and strategic moment in the broader struggle gripping the eastern DRC. As the Kinshasa government faces mounting pressure, both domestically and internationally, M23 and its allies continue to assert control over key regions, presenting themselves as the defenders of a persecuted people.
With each returning family, the message becomes clearer, exile is no longer an option. The people are coming home, and they are doing so with a resounding call for change.
