DRC and Rwanda Reaffirm Peace Commitments Amid Rising Violence in Eastern Congo.
London :
Representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission convened in London this week for the sixth meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC), reaffirming their commitment to implementing the landmark peace agreement signed between Kinshasa and Kigali in June 2025.
The meeting took place against a backdrop of escalating violence in eastern DRC, where renewed clashes, drone strikes, and a worsening humanitarian crisis have raised concerns about the stability of the peace process. Participants expressed serious concern over the deteriorating security situation and stressed the urgent need to make the ceasefire effective on the ground.
During the session, the DRC updated members on efforts to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), while Rwanda provided details on the ongoing disengagement of its forces and the lifting of defensive measures in line with previous commitments.
Both countries pledged to fully implement the Peace Agreement signed on June 27, 2025, including provisions related to drone operations. They also committed to immediately de-escalating tensions, particularly in the conflict-prone area of Minembwe, and to using their influence over armed actors to reduce hostilities.
The Joint Oversight Committee agreed to strengthen verification mechanisms by expanding the mandate of the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+) to monitor commitments under the Washington Accords. The parties also supported the rapid deployment of the verification mission and called on all actors in the region to cooperate with its work.
In addition, the DRC and Rwanda pledged to enhance intelligence-sharing through the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) and work toward a common understanding of future security operations. They also voiced support for ongoing negotiations between the DRC and AFC/M23 rebels under the Qatar-mediated Doha process.
The two countries further agreed to avoid hostile rhetoric and political actions that could undermine peace efforts. They thanked the United States, Qatar, Togo, the African Union Commission, and the United Kingdom for their continued support of the peace process.
The next meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism is scheduled to take place within the next 15 days as diplomatic efforts continue to stabilize eastern Congo.
