Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are scheduled to convene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 for discussions on implementing the 2025 Washington Accords. The gathering will bring together officials from both nations along with mediators from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission through the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, which oversees monitoring and coordination of security commitments between the two countries.
The peace agreement was initially signed in Washington, DC on June 27, 2025, and subsequently reaffirmed through additional accords in December. Key obligations under the arrangement include the DRC’s responsibility to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Rwanda’s commitment to withdraw forces and remove defensive measures along their shared border. The September talks will assess whether both sides have made sufficient progress on these critical security provisions.
The diplomatic initiative addresses decades of conflict in the eastern DRC, a region that has experienced persistent fighting involving multiple armed groups. Rwanda has historically cited security threats from armed groups operating within DRC territory, while Kinshasa has accused Kigali of supporting armed groups seeking territorial control and regional influence. However, fighting continues despite the peace framework, with clashes between Congolese Armed Forces and the M23 armed group persisting in North and South Kivu provinces.
The FDLR issue represents perhaps the most contentious element, with particular disagreement over implementation approaches. In July, the Congolese government reported that an FDLR faction agreed to a disarmament protocol, which Kinshasa presented as progress toward meeting its obligations. Rwanda rejected this characterization, contending the agreement requires full neutralization rather than negotiation with the group, and has maintained that Kinshasa continues providing support to the FDLR.
The September meeting follows an earlier JSCM session held in August, where the two countries agreed to advance monitoring initiatives and scheduled an additional trilateral planning conference for October. The neutralization of the FDLR is expected to remain a primary focus, as Rwanda’s own compliance with the agreement depends partly on progress in this area.
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