At the fifth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism overseeing implementation of the Peace Agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, held in Geneva, Switzerland, both sides confirmed that progress is being made on key issues they agreed upon, including neutralizing the FDLR and lifting defensive measures.
This was announced in a joint statement by the Governments of the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Qatar, together with Togo (as facilitator for the African Union) and the African Union Commission.
This is a statement on the outcomes of the meeting that brought together delegates from these countries and organizations, held between July 15 and 16, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland.
At this meeting of the mechanism responsible for security coordination in implementing the peace agreement signed between Rwanda and the DRC, both sides reviewed the current security situation in eastern Congo and worked to align their views and reach a shared understanding of the situation.
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo reaffirmed their commitment to swiftly implementing the Washington Peace Agreement, including accelerating efforts to neutralize the FDLR and lift the defensive measures put in place by Rwanda.
In a statement issued by the Bureau of African Affairs of the United States Government, it announced that Rwanda and the DRC showed at the meeting that progress had been made in implementing these provisions.
The U.S. Bureau of African Affairs said: “The DRC and Rwanda reported progress on neutralizing the FDLR and lifting Rwanda’s defensive measures in eastern DRC, key steps toward lasting peace in the region. The U.S. remains committed to seeing this through.”
In the joint statement, the countries said: “In order to ensure that this work continues transparently and that each side is held accountable in its respective areas, participants at the meeting agreed to establish bodies to provide support in implementing the Washington Peace Agreement.”
Participants also gave MONUSCO the floor to present how its ongoing work is being carried out in implementing the objectives set in the Washington Agreement, particularly regarding disarming FDLR combatants and repatriating them to Rwanda, and to outline the next steps for continued coordination going forward.
Rwanda and the DRC committed to regularly exchanging information so both countries can continue to have an accurate picture of the situation in eastern Congo, and they thanked the United States, Qatar, the African Union, and Togo for their support in this peace process.
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