He is not alone in this dark past. According to UN estimates, tens of thousands of children have been abducted and forcibly recruited into various armed groups in the eastern DRC, among them Rwandans whose parents fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide.

Furthermore, few employment opportunities mean that former child soldiers often lack food and shelter, according to local NGO Haguruka which advocates for children and women’s rights.

Kampeta Sayinzoga, Permanent Secretary to the Rwandan Ministry of Finance notes that “There is a need for more socio-economic support for the demobilised. The low education level of most of the ex-combatants was another challenge. When they don’t have skills to get a job it is difficult to reintegrate.”
He adds that “When a military person is not integrated it can be very dangerous. We are trying to give those without higher education some skills through apprenticeship programs in tailoring and mechanics.”

A few have rejoined formal education. In fact, Nzamurambaho is one of 45 former child-soldiers who have completed a six-month vocational course in electronics at The Gacuriro Youth Centre in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.