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- France Faces National Debate on Police Brutality Amid Recent Riots
- Witkoff arrives in Russia for Putin meeting after talks with Zelenskyy
- Poll indicates PQ’s referendum pledge may have cost party majority
- Ohio governor’s race intensifies with attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother
- Three-year-old girl rescued after becoming stuck in 12th-storey window in China
- Former FDLR fighters face challenges returning to civilian life in Rwanda
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France Faces National Debate on Police Brutality Amid Recent Riots
9:01 am
Media Lens: France Faces National Debate on Police Brutality Amid Recent Riots
France faces scrutiny over its handling of riots that have erupted across the nation. Allegations arise against police for allegedly brutalising minors amid the unrest.
Quick links: What has happened | Status quo | Confirmed facts | Preconceptions | Elisions | One story, four angles | Related links
What has happened
Recent protests in France erupted in response to escalating violence and dissent following the police shooting of Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old in Nanterre on June 27, 2023. The protests, fueled by anger over police conduct, especially concerning treatment of minorities, led to significant unrest across multiple cities, with clashes reported in Paris, Marseille, and Lille.
Amidst ongoing civil and political tensions, several local governments imposed curfews to maintain order, and police forces increased their presence in affected areas. The governments have since faced pressure to address underlying issues related to community-police relations and socioeconomic inequalities that sparked the protests in the first place.
Status quo
Context is not necessary for this content.
Confirmed facts
- Protests in France have erupted following a controversial police incident involving a minor.
- The protests have been described as some of the worst rioting France has experienced in years.
- The French government is facing criticism over its response to the riots.
- There have been allegations of police brutality during the protests.
- Multiple sources have reported on the division within French society regarding the handling of the protests and rioting.
Preconceptions
- BBC prioritizes the perspectives of individuals directly affected by the protests, emphasizing personal stories and emotions, while reducing focus on broader political contexts.
- WSJ emphasizes the economic ramifications and political analysis of the protests, while less attention is given to personal narratives or emotional impacts on individuals involved.
- Al Jazeera highlights allegations of police brutality and socio-political implications, emphasizing human rights issues, while reducing exploration of state responses.
- AP News focuses on the timeline of events and governmental responses, prioritizing factual reporting over emotional or human stories, thus reducing narrative depth concerning individual experiences.
Elisions
- Sourcing discrepancies: While BBC emphasizes the social impact and public sentiment regarding police brutality in France, WSJ takes a more analytical approach by focusing on political implications and government responses, creating a gap in coverage on societal vs. political narratives.
- Minor details ignored: Al Jazeera highlights specific incidents involving minors during the riots, which are minimally covered by AP News, which instead focuses more broadly on the government’s reaction and overall public unrest.
- Timeliness of updates: The WSJ and BBC provide more timely updates on developments in the protests, whereas AP News regressed in timelines, potentially leading to missed insights on the rapidly evolving situation in France.
One story, four angles
AP News – How France’s worst rioting in years erupted and how the government responded
Publication: AP News | Intensity: (8/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: High
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Espresso Shot: The focus is directed towards the escalation of riots and the government’s response, emphasizing the severity and consequences of the unrest.
Key differences:
1. **Response framing**: AP highlights “the government responded”, suggesting accountability, whereas WSJ emphasizes “what happens next,” signaling a more speculative approach.
2. **Descriptive language**: AP’s title includes “worst rioting in years” focusing on severity, whereas Al Jazeera’s piece uses “brutalising minors,” which turns focus towards police conduct.
3. **Consequence emphasis**: AP indicates the government’s response mechanism, while BBC discusses blame and lessons learned, suggesting a reflective rather than reactive stance.
Bias: Selection: Highlights government actions prominently | Language: “worst rioting” emphasizes severity | Omission: Less attention to community impact or the motivations behind the riots.
Assessment: Readers first believe the unrest is a significant failure of governance.
WSJ – What’s Behind the Protests in France and What Happens Next
Publication: WSJ | Intensity: (7/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: Moderate
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Espresso Shot: The emphasis is on uncovering motivations and potential future implications of the protests, encouraging readers to think more critically about the context.
Key differences:
1. **Tone in questioning**: WSJ’s “What happens next” invites curiosity about future developments, contrasting with BBC’s focus on existing blame dynamics.
2. **Depth of analysis**: WSJ presents an investigative angle, while AP primarily recounts events, making WSJ seem more proactive.
3. **Narrative focus**: The WSJ highlights the undercurrents driving protests, whereas AP focuses on the immediate aftermath, making WSJ’s angle feel more nuanced.
Bias: Selection: Focuses on future implications and motivations | Language: “What happens next” posits a forward-looking inquiry | Omission: Less emphasis on community stakeholders affected by the unrest.
Assessment: Readers believe protests are complex with intricate underlying issues.
BBC – France divided over who to blame for riots and what to learn from them
Publication: BBC | Intensity: (6/10) | Sentiment: Mixed | Legal precision: Moderate
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Espresso Shot: The initial emphasis is on division and accountability, pushing readers to consider varying perspectives on responsibility.
Key differences:
1. **Focus on division**: BBC’s mention of “divided over who to blame” brings in social conflict, unlike AP’s straightforward historical recounting.
2. **Analytical depth**: BBC discusses “what to learn” framing in a reflective manner, contrasting WSJ’s forward-looking inquiry emphasizing future actions.
3. **Emphasis on learning**: By using “what to learn,” BBC engages readers in a proactive educational discourse rather than merely documenting events, as AP does.
Bias: Selection: Prioritizes narratives of blame and responsibility | Language: “divided” underscores sociopolitical tension | Omission: Less emphasis on police or governmental failures compared to other outlets.
Assessment: Readers first believe that societal divisions over responsibility is a critical issue in the protests.
Al Jazeera – ‘I am still traumatised’: French police accused of brutalising minors
Publication: Al Jazeera | Intensity: (9/10) | Sentiment: Negative | Legal precision: Moderate
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Espresso Shot: This article’s focus is strongly oriented towards personal accounts of trauma caused by police actions, highlighting systemic issues in law enforcement.
Key differences:
1. **Victim-centric narrative**: Al Jazeera uses personal testimony (“I am still traumatised”) to create an emotional connection, contrasting AP’s more detached recounting of events.
2. **Emphasis on brutality**: “Brutalising minors” in the title suggests systemic issues, moving beyond just revolts mentioned in other outlets.
3. **Call for accountability**: Al Jazeera’s strong language frames the police’s role very negatively, while BBC’s subdued tone focuses on broader blame dynamics.
Bias: Selection: Prioritizes police violence narratives | Language: “brutalising” creates a strong emotional reaction | Omission: Lacks broader socioeconomic analysis seen in other reports.
Assessment: Readers are led to believe that police actions are a significant and ongoing crisis within the riot context.
The BBC’s coverage of the recent French riots emphasizes societal divisions and the need for reflection, presenting a nuanced view that focuses on understanding underlying issues, thereby adopting a constructive stance. In contrast, the WSJ’s report frames the situation as deeply troubling and indicative of governmental failure, escalating the discourse around public disorder. Al Jazeera’s coverage complements WSJ, highlighting police conduct and public trauma, adding to the tension. Ultimately, while BBC offers a pathway to resolution, the WSJ’s and Al Jazeera’s narratives escalate fears around unrest and authority. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.
Related links
BBC
Katya Adler: France divided over who to blame for riots and what to learn from them
WSJ
What’s Behind the Protests in France and What Happens Next
Al Jazeera
‘I am still traumatised’: French police accused of brutalising minors
AP News
How France’s worst rioting in years erupted and how the government responded
Witkoff arrives in Russia for Putin meeting after talks with Zelenskyy
8:00 am
Get you up to speed: Witkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after ‘positive’ talks with Zelenskyy
United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian leaders on the Ukraine war following discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway. At least one person was killed and two were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s western Bryansk region on Wednesday, while two people were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise building in Kyiv.
Steve Witkoff is expected to present the outcomes of his discussions with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. The ongoing conflict, which began over four and a half years ago, remains a focal point of diplomatic negotiations, with both Russia and Ukraine engaged in long-range attacks amid these efforts.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterised the talks between Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “positive” and stated that Witkoff would convey the outcomes to President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg. Following these discussions, Zelenskyy noted the restoration of “very, very important” intelligence from the US, indicating a potential shift in information sharing amidst ongoing tensions.
What remains unclear — It is not specified what outcomes Witkoff hopes to achieve in his meeting with Putin.
Witkoff arrives in Russia for Putin meeting after talks with Zelenskyy
News|Russia-Ukraine warWitkoff in Russia for Putin meeting after ‘positive’ talks with Zelenskyy
Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Witkoff’s talks with Zelenskyy as ‘positive’, as efforts to end war intensify.
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian leaders on the Ukraine war following “positive” talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Norway.
Witkoff is due to meet President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in the city in northwestern Russia, as the US pushes for an end to the war that began more than four and a half years ago with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Zelenskyy in recent weeks and has suggested that someone else should negotiate on Kyiv’s behalf. The remarks signalled a new low in their relationship, while Zelenskyy has accused the US of suspending crucial intelligence sharing.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the talks between Witkoff and Zelenskyy as “positive”, adding that the US envoy would share the results with Putin. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also attended the talks with Zelenskyy, but did so virtually because of illness. Kushner is also expected to attend the meeting with Putin remotely.
“He’ll now, armed with those ideas, be able to go to St Petersburg and share them with the Russian side – and let’s see if we can make some progress,” Rubio said.
The prime ministers of Norway and Finland also attended the talks in Oslo. Representatives from the European Union and NATO were present. Following Tuesday’s talks, Zelenskyy said “very, very important” intelligence from the US had been restored.
Zelenskyy has also accused Washington of slowing down the internet service, Starshield, which is crucial for Ukraine’s battlefield operations. Starshield is the military-grade equivalent of Starlink and is also developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Rubio dismissed Zelenskyy’s accusations, saying Trump had “nothing to do with the decisions that are made by Starlink and Starshield”. Musk disputes this and says such decisions can only be made by the US military and president.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Musk ordered the slowdown of the service, citing US officials and people familiar with the matter.
As diplomatic efforts intensify, Russia and Ukraine continue to trade long-range attacks.
At least one person was killed and two were wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s western Bryansk region on Wednesday, Governor Yegor Kovalchuk said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian Emergency Service said two people were killed in a Russian attack on a high-rise building in the Sviatoshinsky district of the capital, Kyiv.
Poll indicates PQ’s referendum pledge may have cost party majority
7:00 am
Get you up to speed: Poll suggests PQ referendum pledge cost party majority as Alberta vote fuels sovereignty debate
A post-election poll indicates that the Parti Québécois could have secured a majority government. This outcome is attributed to the party’s commitment to hold a sovereignty referendum during its first mandate.
The results of the post-election poll indicate significant voter support for the Parti Québécois, suggesting a potential majority government. The party’s commitment to a sovereignty referendum was a key factor in its electoral performance.
The Parti Québécois’ post-election poll results indicate that its majority government potential was undermined by its commitment to a sovereignty referendum in its first term. Political analysts are now speculating on the implications of this stance for future elections as party leaders reassess their platforms.
What remains unclear — The specific reasons behind the electors’ opposition to the sovereignty referendum are not detailed in the poll results.
Poll indicates PQ’s referendum pledge may have cost party majority
A post-election poll suggests the Parti Québécois could have won a majority government if it had not pledged to hold a sovereignty referendum in its first mandate.
Ohio governor’s race intensifies with attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother
5:00 am
Get you up to speed: Ohio governor’s race takes ugly turn with attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother
A new attack advertisement features Amy Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling her a “liar” and endorsing Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The advertisement has not aired on television but circulated widely on social media, and the origins of the spot are unclear.
The advertisement has not aired on television or cable but has gained traction on social media. Investigations into the origins of the ad are ongoing, with authorities noting it lacks necessary disclosure regarding financing and authorisation.
Amy Acton’s campaign has condemned a new attack ad featuring her estranged mother as a “despicable low,” with her brother, Philip Stearns, denouncing Vivek Ramaswamy for exploiting their traumatic family history. Ramaswamy defended the ad, asserting that “every person who appears to know her the best … have told voters not to vote for her,” as discussions over the advert’s origins continue amid scrutiny over its funding and authorization.
What remains unclear — The source of funding and the entity that authorised the attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother has not been disclosed.
Ohio governor’s race intensifies with attack ad featuring Amy Acton’s mother
A new attack ad features the estranged mother of Democratic candidate for Ohio governor Amy Acton calling her a “liar” and defending her GOP opponent Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton’s campaign and her brother denounced the ad as a “despicable low.”
Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, whose husband was accused of raping Acton when she was a child, says in the spot, “It’s not easy for a mother to say this, but Amy was a serious problem. She is a liar; she lies about her past.”
Acton’s brother, Philip Stearns, lashed out at Ramaswamy in response: “It’s not surprising that Vivek Ramaswamy has stooped to such a despicable low as to attempt to turn the sexual abuse Amy endured at twelve years old from our birth mother’s husband into a political talking point.”
He said that after their stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged, he and Acton were removed from the Arthurs’ custody and lived with their father.
“Our birth mother stayed married to Amy’s rapist until he died,” Stearns said. “This desperate, disgusting attack reveals exactly who Vivek Ramaswamy is at his core – a pathetic excuse for a man who is willing to hurt anyone as long as it gets him what he wants.”
Ramaswamy told reporters Tuesday it was “an ad from our campaign,” according to The Columbus Dispatch. He defended the content of the ad, saying: “Every person who appears to know her the best … have told voters not to vote for her but to vote for me instead.”
The origins of the ad, which circulated on social media on Monday night, were initially unclear. It lacks the mandatory disclosure of who paid for and authorized the commercial. It has not aired on TV or cable but has spread widely on social media.
Connie Luck, a spokesperson for Ramaswamy, but said in a statement on Tuesday, “We don’t know what happened between Amy and her mother, who first spoke out about Amy in 2020, but we know that Amy Acton is a serial fabulist who has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of before deciding who to entrust as governor.”
The state Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Acton, who served as the state’s public health commissioner under GOP Gov. Mike DeWine during the pandemic, has previously talked about being abused by her now-deceased stepfather. According to court records provided by the campaign, in 1978, Arthur was charged with raping Acton, when she was between 10 and 12 years old. He entered a not guilty plea.
Acton has also detailed struggles throughout her early childhood with poverty and homelessness, and records provided by her campaign show that the family lived in a tent for a year.
Acton told the Youngstown Vindicator in 2019 that once she and her brother were able to go live with their father, their lives became more stable.
“In the courthouse after they were charged, I went to give her a kiss, and she just turned her cheek away,” Acton told The Vindicator seven years ago. “That was the last time I ever saw her.” Her campaign says that court date remains the last time Acton saw her mother.
Her mother and her stepfather, released on bond, left Ohio without facing charges, the news site said. Warrants were issued for Cledith Arthur’s arrest at least twice in the next few years, according to court records. Donna and Cledith Arthur lived in Pennsylvania until Cledith’s death in 2004.
Ramaswamy’s backers have launched other personal attacks against Acton, who has been leading in polls over the last month.
Other aspects of Acton’s personal life have also resurfaced during the election, including an incident when police were called to her home in 2019 during what was characterized as a domestic dispute.
Three-year-old girl rescued after becoming stuck in 12th-storey window in China
4:00 am
Get you up to speed: Girl, 3, rescued after getting head stuck in 12th-storey window | News World
A three-year-old girl was rescued by bystanders after becoming lodged in a protective grill of a 12th-floor window in Fujian, southern China. She was suspended in mid-air until neighbours and a security guard held a chair underneath her while emergency crews responded.
Emergency crews responded swiftly to the incident, with firefighters reportedly cutting through the apartment door to access the scene. The girl’s mother had left her alone while shopping, prompting the rescue effort from neighbours and security personnel.
Local authorities in Fujian, China, are reviewing safety protocols for residential buildings following the near-tragic incident involving a three-year-old girl. The child was taken to hospital as a precaution but was found to be unhurt after bystanders and security staff prevented her from falling from a 12th-floor window.
What remains unclear — The exact duration the girl was left alone in the apartment before the incident occurred is not specified.
Three-year-old girl rescued after becoming stuck in 12th-storey window in China
Hero bystanders supported the little girl with a chair as they waited for rescuers to get inside the 12th-floor apartment (Picture: China News)
Hero bystanders prevented a little girl from falling through a 12th-floor window in China.
The hair-raising rescue happened in Fujian, southern China, after the three-year-old girl managed to weave her way through the protective grill on the apartment block window.
Footage shows the child, dressed in a pink pyjama, dangling through the small gap in the window shield on Saturday.
She was only held on by her head before neighbours and a security guard rushed to help.
They can be seen balancing a chair underneath the girl to take her weight of her head and prevent her from falling down from the 12th-floor flat.
The bystanders risked their own lives by daringly reaching out of the window below the youngster as others clung onto their legs while waiting for the emergency crews.
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Outside a window on the 12th floor, a group of people joined forces to hold up a child! A 3-year-old girl in Fujian had her head stuck in a protective screen, with her body hanging in mid-air. Security guards and property staff risked their lives to support her. Firefighters… pic.twitter.com/WtHJSWr0vZ
— Nanchang China🇨🇳 (@Nanchang_China) October 19, 2026
The little girl’s mother is said to have left her alone in the apartment while she went food shopping.
Another clip appears to show the firefighters cut through the apartment’s door to get inside.
The child was reportedly taken to the hospital as a precaution, but was unhurt.
In London, a young girl was rescued after dangling from a window for at least nine minutes.
The three-year-old clung to a window ledge above shops on Ilford High Street, east London, on July 11 afternoon.
Underneath, a police officer and a stranger prepared to catch her as onlookers screamed in horror, with someone yelling ‘hurry up.’
When the little girl fell, she was caught by the stranger who had ran out from a neighbouring window.
He was later named as dad-of-two Mohamed Jesil, who told WTX he ran out ‘on instinct’ after hearing the shouting outside.
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Former FDLR fighters face challenges returning to civilian life in Rwanda
1:00 am
Get you up to speed: Why former FDLR fighters are returning to Rwanda
Captain Jean Claude Hategekimana, a former member of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), returned to Rwanda on February 24, 2026, after leaving the armed group. He is currently at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre in Musanze, where he is preparing for civilian life.
The average length of stay at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre is five months, during which returnees receive various forms of support, including vocational training and psychosocial assistance. The Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission also conducts follow-up assessments to monitor how former residents are adjusting to civilian life after their discharge.
Francis Musoni, secretary-general of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, stated that the Mutobo centre aims to facilitate the reintegration of former fighters through comprehensive support, including medical care and civic education. As former FDLR members begin to return to civilian life, the centre will continue to provide follow-up assistance to ensure their successful transition into society.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how many former FDLR fighters successfully reintegrate into civilian life after leaving the Mutobo Centre.
Former FDLR fighters face challenges returning to civilian life in Rwanda
NewsWhy former FDLR fighters are returning to Rwanda
From the forest to Mutobo, former fighters face the challenge of rebuilding their lives after leaving the armed group.
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026
Published On 21 Oct 202621 Oct 2026Musanze, Rwanda – Jean Claude Hategekimana feared that returning to Rwanda could cost him his life. After years with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), he decided to leave the armed group and return home. At Rwanda’s Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre, he began preparing for civilian life.
Born in 1996 in Rutsiro District, in western Rwanda, Hategekimana moved to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with his parents and grew up in an area controlled by the FDLR. He joined the group in 2018, underwent military training and eventually reached the rank of captain.
“I arrived at the Mutobo Centre after fighting to defend Goma. Following our defeat, I fled to Masisi. After realising that I was fighting for nothing, I decided to return to Rwanda. I came back on February 24,” he told WTX News.
Captain Jean-Claude Hategekimana, a former FDLR fighter who returned to Rwanda in February 2026 and entered the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre [Layth Mushtaq/WTX News]
Hategekimana said FDLR members had been taught that anyone who returned to Rwanda would be killed.
“Upon arriving in Rwanda, I realised that the FDLR had been lying to us. For me, returning home felt like embarking on a suicide mission,” he said.
His experience illustrates the challenge of reintegrating former fighters whose beliefs and fears have been shaped by years in an armed group.
Rebuilding civilian life
Francis Musoni, secretary-general of the Rwanda Demobilisation and Reintegration Commission, said the Mutobo centre, located in Musanze in Rwanda’s Northern Province, was established in 2001 to receive members of the FDLR and other Rwandan armed groups returning from the DRC.
The FDLR emerged in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. After the genocide, members of the former Rwandan armed forces and militia groups fled to what was then Zaire, now the DRC. The Rwandan government accuses the FDLR of carrying out attacks against Rwanda and contributing to cross-border insecurity.
At Mutobo, the rehabilitation programme includes medical care, psychosocial support, civic education and assistance with reconnecting with families. Returnees can also contact relatives and friends through a telephone service, Musoni said.
“We help them to build confidence among themselves, build trust, and empower them to go back into the community and contribute to the development of the country together with their families,” he said.
Children play on playground equipment at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre in northern Rwanda [Layth Mushtaq/WTX News]
The centre also allows visitors and media representatives to meet returnees. Musoni said those undergoing rehabilitation can visit their communities for short periods to help rebuild their confidence in returning home.
“They can travel to their communities [during rehabilitation]. They are given written permission for a week or two, and we even facilitate transport,” he said.
Different journeys home
For the former commanders interviewed by WTX News at Mutobo, the decision to leave the FDLR was shaped by family ties, disillusionment and concerns about personal safety.
Major-General Anastase Munyaneza served in the former Rwandan armed forces in Kigali’s Kicukiro District during the 1994 genocide. He said he left Rwanda after the genocide and later joined the FDLR, eventually commanding its South Kivu sector.
Although he had come to accept the group’s beliefs, Munyaneza remained in contact with his family in Rwanda. News of their lives made him question his own circumstances.
“I was the only one who had fled to the DRC. I regularly received news about them. I knew they were still alive, attending school, working for the government and improving their lives. I began asking myself what I was doing in the forest,” he said.
He added that seeing other members return safely encouraged him to consider going home.
Munyaneza said he contacted personnel from the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), who transported him from South Kivu to Bukavu and then to the Congolese-Rwandan border. He subsequently proceeded to Mutobo.
Lieutenant-Colonel Idrissa Bizimana, who was responsible for ideology, propaganda and recruitment within the FDLR, said his decision to return followed a change in his convictions.
“I no longer believed in the ideology I had been promoting. After receiving verified information about what was happening in Rwanda, I decided to return home,” he said.
Bizimana said he had been in contact with a MONUSCO general who had offered to help him return. Using a satellite phone equipped with GPS, he sent his location and the date. A helicopter was then dispatched to retrieve him, he said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Emilien Mpakaniye, who joined the FDLR in 1998 and was responsible for economic affairs at its headquarters, said he began questioning the organisation after becoming disillusioned with what he described as its lies.
Colonel Augustin Nshimiyimana, a former FDLR intelligence commander who returned to Rwanda in 2022 and underwent rehabilitation at the Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre [Layth Mushtaq/WTX News]
Colonel Augustin Nshimiyimana, a former FDLR intelligence commander, returned to Rwanda in 2022 and underwent rehabilitation at Mutobo. He said he decided to leave after another commander accused him of working with Rwanda following a disagreement over a mission in Bujumbura.
Nshimiyimana said the accusation made him fear for his life.
“When they accuse you of working with Rwanda, it means they consider you a Tutsi, and the next step is to kill you,” he said.
Preparing for a new life
At Mutobo, former fighters receive education and practical support to prepare for life after discharge.
Febronie Mukankiko, a teacher at the centre, said teaching people who grew up in the forest required a different approach.
“Our students are different from ordinary students. They are adults who grew up in the forest, so teaching them requires special skills. We undergo additional training to ensure that we can teach them effectively,” she said.
Febronie Mukankiko, a teacher at Rwanda’s Mutobo Demobilisation and Reintegration Centre, where she teaches adult former fighters who grew up in the forest [Layth Mushtaq/WTX News]
She added that completing their studies could be a significant achievement for those with limited access to formal education.
“When they graduate and receive their certificates, they are very happy,” she said.
Musoni said the average stay at the centre was five months, after which returnees completed a formal discharge process. He said assistance could include financial support, vocational training, formal education and help establishing income-generating activities. The commission also follows up with former residents to assess how they are adjusting to life in their communities.
For those who have spent years away from Rwanda, leaving Mutobo marks the start of another transition: finding work, reconnecting with family and adjusting to civilian society.
For Mpakaniye, disillusionment came partly from the contrast between the lives of senior commanders’ families and those of ordinary fighters.
“First, their family members live in Rwanda and in Europe, while ours are in the forest,” he said.
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