Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are set to reconvene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 to discuss the implementation of the 2025 Washington Accords. The two-day meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) will include representatives from both countries and mediators from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission. This mechanism was established to monitor and coordinate the implementation of security commitments between the two nations.
The meeting occurs amid ongoing fighting in eastern DRC, where key commitments under the peace process remain unresolved. The peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda was signed in Washington, DC on June 27, 2025. The Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, signed on December 4, reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to implementing that agreement.
Key security commitments include the DRC’s obligation to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Rwanda’s disengagement of its forces and lifting of defensive measures. The upcoming talks will focus on whether progress can be made on these commitments.
The agreement is part of broader diplomatic efforts to end decades of conflict in the eastern DRC, a region that borders Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi and has been affected by armed groups and repeated fighting. Rwanda has claimed that armed groups operating from DRC territory threaten its security, while the Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting armed groups aiming to seize territory and influence in the eastern DRC.
A spokesperson for the US Department of State stated, "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 September forecast by Security Council Report indicated that clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 armed group have continued in North and South Kivu, two provinces in eastern DRC. The report noted that two central obligations under the Washington process, the neutralization of the FDLR and Rwanda’s lifting of defensive measures, have yet to be completed.
Rwanda has accused the DRC of supporting, arming, and collaborating with the FDLR, which has its roots in forces and militias that fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Some members of the FDLR were linked to the former Rwandan army and the Interahamwe militia. The group remains active in eastern DRC and is a significant security concern for Rwanda.
Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 group, allegations that Kigali denies. M23 emerged as a major armed movement in 2012, withdrew from controlled territory, and resurfaced in 2022, launching a new offensive in eastern DRC. The group gained significant territory in 2025, including the capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu.
Although M23 is not a party to the Washington agreement, it is central to efforts to resolve the broader conflict. The US-backed process requires both Rwanda and the DRC to support a separate Qatar-led dialogue between Kinshasa and M23, which resulted in the Doha Framework for Peace, signed by the Congolese government and the Congo River Alliance (AFC/M23) on November 15, 2025.
The September meeting follows the sixth JSCM meeting held in Geneva on August 12 and 13, where the DRC and Rwanda agreed to advance two initiatives aimed at strengthening monitoring and verification of the Washington Accords. The DRC presented its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) plan for the FDLR and responded to questions from JSCM members. The parties also agreed to hold a trilateral planning conference in October to revise their coordinated efforts.
The neutralization of the FDLR is expected to remain a challenging issue. On July 28, the Congolese government announced that a faction of the FDLR had signed a protocol for disarmament, demobilisation, and cantonment, which Kinshasa presented as progress towards fulfilling its obligations under the Washington agreement. However, Rwanda rejected this move, asserting that the agreement requires the FDLR to be neutralized rather than negotiated with, and accused Kinshasa of continuing to support the group.
The FDLR issue will be a central point of contention as the two countries attempt to resolve the commitments that are at the heart of their dispute. Rwanda maintains that its security measures along the border with the DRC are necessary to protect itself from armed groups operating in eastern DRC. Under the Washington agreement, Rwanda is expected to disengage its forces and lift defensive measures as part of the broader security arrangements.