Joint statement on 6th meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed a joint statement following their sixth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting was attended by representatives from the DRC, Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission.

During the two-day event, the DRC and Rwanda pledged to enhance monitoring and verification efforts regarding the implementation of the Washington Accords on the ground. They requested the United States to review two proposed initiatives and share feedback at the subsequent JSCM.

A trilateral planning conference was scheduled for October 2026, aiming to produce a revised Operations Order to guide their collaborative efforts. The African Union Commission shared insights from the African Union High-Level Meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana, in July 2026.

In a presentation, the DRC outlined its Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) Plan for the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and fielded inquiries from JSCM members. Simultaneously, JSCM held a virtual discussion with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to incorporate its DDR expertise in the region.

The DRC and Rwanda thanked the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission for their assistance throughout the peace process. They agreed to convene for the next JSCM meeting on September 16-17, 2026, in Geneva.