Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are set to reconvene in Geneva for talks on implementing their US-backed peace agreement, as fighting continues in eastern DRC and key security commitments remain unresolved.
Officials from the two countries are due to meet on September 16 and 17 under the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM).
The two-day meeting will bring together representatives of Rwanda and the DRC alongside the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union Commission. The mechanism was established to monitor and coordinate implementation of security commitments between the two countries.
Rwanda and the DRC signed a peace agreement in Washington, DC, on June 27, 2025. The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed on December 4, reaffirmed their commitment to implementing that agreement.
Among the key security commitments are the DRC’s obligation to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), while Rwanda is expected to disengage its forces and lift defensive measures.
The Geneva talks will therefore test whether the two sides can make progress on commitments that remain at the centre of their dispute.
The agreement forms part of wider diplomatic efforts to end decades of conflict in eastern DRC, a region bordering Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi where armed groups and recurring fighting have caused prolonged instability.
Rwanda has long maintained that armed groups operating from Congolese territory pose a threat to its security. The Congolese government, meanwhile, accuses Kigali of supporting armed groups seeking territory and influence in eastern DRC.
“The Washington Accords reaffirm the parties’ commitment to implement the Peace Agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, agreed to in Washington, June 2025, and achieve the vision of the Regional Economic Integration Framework, to create a bold roadmap for peace, security, and unprecedented economic growth,” a US Department of State spokesperson said.
Fighting, however, has continued.
Clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and M23 have continued in North and South Kivu. Two central obligations under the Washington process, neutralisation of the FDLR and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures, have also yet to be declared complete.
Rwanda has repeatedly accused the DRC of supporting, arming and fighting alongside the FDLR.
The FDLR has its roots in forces and militias that fled Rwanda following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Some of its members were linked to the former Rwandan army and the Interahamwe militia. The armed group has remained active in eastern DRC and is regarded by Rwanda as a major security threat. Kinshasa, meanwhile, accuses Rwanda of supporting M23, allegations in Kigali denied.
M23 first emerged as a major armed movement in 2012. After withdrawing from territory it controlled, the group resurfaced in 2022 and launched another offensive in eastern DRC.
It made major territorial gains in 2025, including the capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
Although M23 is not a party to the Washington agreement, it remains central to efforts to end the wider conflict.
The US-backed process requires Rwanda and the DRC to support a separate Qatar-led dialogue between Kinshasa and M23. That process led to the Doha Framework for Peace, signed by the Congolese government and the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) on November 15, 2025.
Where the talks stand
The forthcoming meeting follows the sixth JSCM session held in Geneva on August 12 and 13.
During that meeting, Rwanda and the DRC agreed to advance two initiatives aimed at strengthening monitoring and verification of the Washington Accords on the ground.
They asked the United States to consider the initiatives and provide feedback at the next JSCM meeting.
The DRC also presented its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration plan for the FDLR and responded to questions from members of the mechanism.
The two sides also agreed to hold a trilateral planning conference in October, expected to culminate in a revised operations order guiding their coordinated efforts.
FDLR remains a key dispute
Neutralisation of the FDLR is expected to remain one of the most difficult issues in the talks.
On July 28, the Congolese government said a faction of the FDLR had accepted and signed a protocol covering disarmament, demobilisation and cantonment. Kinshasa presented the development as progress towards fulfilling its obligations under the Washington agreement.
Rwanda rejected the move, arguing that the agreement requires the FDLR to be neutralised rather than negotiated with. Kigali has also accused Kinshasa of continuing to support the group.
The disagreement is significant because progress on neutralising the FDLR is tied to Rwanda’s own commitments under the Washington process.
Rwanda maintains that its security measures along the border with the DRC are necessary to protect the country from armed groups operating in eastern DRC.
Under the Washington agreement, Rwanda is expected to disengage its forces and lift those defensive measures as part of the wider security arrangements.
The FDLR issue is therefore expected to remain a central point of contention in Geneva as the two countries seek progress on commitments that remain at the heart of their dispute.
Elie Gatete
RADIOTV10