Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda are set to meet in Geneva on September 16. 17 To review how well they are carrying out their 2025 Washington peace accords.
The talks will be held under the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism. Representatives from the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union Commission will also be present as mediators.
This mechanism was created to keep track of security commitments made by both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.
The meeting comes at a time when fighting is still happening in DRC. Unresolved security issues are still blocking progress toward lasting peace.
As part of the Washington agreement the Democratic Republic of the Congo is supposed to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda or FDLR. Rwanda is expected to withdraw its troops and remove its measures.
The FDLR traces back to groups and militias that fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The group continues to operate in DRC.
Kinshasa has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group. Kigali on the hand says the Democratic Republic of the Congo supports the FDLR. These accusations are still at the heart of the conflict.
M23 took control of Goma and Bukavu in 2025. Even though the group is not part of the Washington agreement it plays a role in regional peace efforts.
The September meeting follows talks, in Geneva in August. At that time both sides agreed to strengthen monitoring and verification systems.
The disarmament of the FDLR remains a point of disagreement. Kinshasa and Kigali still do not agree on how the group should be neutralised.
