Delegations from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) met in Geneva, Switzerland, to assess progress made in implementing the peace agreement they signed in Washington on June 27, 2025.
The meeting was held on August 12 and 13, 2026, as part of the sixth session of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM). Representatives from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission also attended.
New Monitoring Initiatives Under Review
Rwanda and the DRC agreed to continue with two initiatives aimed at strengthening mechanisms for monitoring and overseeing the implementation of the Washington Agreement, although details were not disclosed.
The U.S. Department of State said both countries requested Washington, as facilitator, to review the initiatives and provide feedback during the next JSCM meeting scheduled for September 16–17, 2026, in Geneva.
The two sides also agreed to hold a joint planning meeting in October 2026 to update relevant implementation guidelines.
FDLR Disarmament Plan Discussed
The DRC presented its plan to disarm, demobilize and reintegrate FDLR fighters and responded to questions from members of the JSCM.
The plan follows an agreement announced in late July 2026 between the DRC and the FDLR. Rwanda rejected the arrangement, arguing that it does not comply with the Washington Agreement.
On August 13, the European Union, the United States and other members of the International Contact Group (ICG) reiterated that the DRC must dismantle the FDLR as required under the peace agreement and warned that cooperation with the group is inconsistent with the commitments made in Washington.
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