Geneva talks put Rwanda, DRC peace deal to the test

Rwandan and Congolese officials are set to meet in Geneva for two days of talks regarding the implementation of the 2025 Washington Accords, a peace agreement signed in June 2025. The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), comprising representatives from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission, will oversee the discussions.

The talks come amid ongoing violence in the eastern DRC, with key commitments under the peace process still unfulfilled. The Washington Accords, signed on December 4, reaffirmed both parties' commitment to the peace agreement. Central to the accords are the DRC's responsibility to eliminate the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Rwanda's disengagement of troops and lifting defensive measures.

The talks will assess whether progress can be made on these commitments. The conflict in eastern DRC, a region bordering Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi, has been marred by armed groups and frequent fighting. Rwanda has long claimed armed groups operating from DRC pose a threat to its security, while the Congolese government accuses Rwanda of supporting rebels aiming to seize territory and influence.

A September forecast by Security Council Report indicated that clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 group persisted in North and South Kivu provinces. Despite this, two key obligations under the Washington process—neutralization of the FDLR and Rwanda lifting defensive measures—have not yet been declared complete. Rwanda has consistently accused the DRC of supporting, arming, and collaborating with the FDLR.