Geneva talks put Rwanda-DRC peace deal to the test | News
DRC and Rwanda to Resume Talks on Washington Accords in Geneva
Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are scheduled to reconvene in Geneva on September 16 and 17 to discuss the implementation of the Washington Accords, signed in June 2025.
The two-day meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) will include representatives from both nations, with mediation support from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission. This mechanism was established to monitor and ensure compliance with security commitments made between the DRC and Rwanda.
This upcoming dialogue occurs amid ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC, where critical aspects of the peace process remain unresolved. The Washington Accords, which serve as a cornerstone for peace and cooperation in the region, aim to reduce the violence that has persisted for decades.
Key elements of the agreement include the DRC’s commitment to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and Rwanda’s obligation to withdraw its troops and lift defensive measures.
The discussions in September will focus on potential advancements regarding these commitments. The situation remains urgent, as the conflict in eastern DRC continues to draw in neighboring countries. Rwanda has voiced concerns that armed groups operating from DRC territory pose a threat to its national security. Conversely, the Congolese government has accused Rwanda of supporting militia groups that aim to exert control over eastern DRC.
“The Washington Accords reaffirm the parties’ commitment to implement the Peace Agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, agreed to in Washington, June 2025, and achieve the vision of the Regional Economic Integration Framework, to create a bold roadmap for peace, security, and unprecedented economic growth,” a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State said.
Despite the emphasis on dialogue, violence persists. According to a September report from the Security Council Report, clashes between the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the M23 armed group continue in the North and South Kivu provinces. The report also noted that two primary obligations outlined in the Washington Accords—the neutralization of the FDLR and Rwanda’s withdrawal of defensive measures—remain incomplete.
Rwanda has repeatedly accused the DRC of supporting the FDLR, a group that traces its origins to forces that fled Rwanda after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The FDLR has since maintained a presence in the eastern DRC, raising ongoing security concerns for Rwanda. Meanwhile, the Congolese government accuses Kigali of backing the M23, which emerged as a prominent militia in 2012, withdrew, and re-emerged in 2022, launching a significant offensive that resulted in territorial gains, including the capture of Goma and Bukavu.
While the M23 is not a direct party to the Washington Accords, its activities are crucial to the broader conflict resolution efforts. The U.S.-backed process calls for cooperation between Rwanda, the DRC, and a Qatar-led dialogue with the M23. This dialogue has produced the Doha Framework for Peace, signed by the Congolese government and M23 on November 15, 2025.
The September meeting follows a previous JSCM meeting held on August 12 and 13, where the DRC and Rwanda agreed to two initiatives aimed at enhancing monitoring and verification of the Washington Accords. The DRC also presented its Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) plan for the FDLR during that session.
Progress on the neutralization of the FDLR is expected to remain a contentious issue. In July, the Congolese government announced that a faction of the FDLR had signed a protocol on disarmament and demobilization, which Kinshasa viewed as a positive step under the Washington agreement. However, Rwanda has expressed skepticism, arguing that the agreement requires the FDLR to be neutralized rather than negotiated with.
The disagreement over the FDLR is critical, as it ties into Rwanda’s commitments under the Washington process. Rwanda insists that its security measures along the DRC border are necessary to protect against threats from eastern DRC. The upcoming Geneva meeting will likely see the FDLR issue remain a prominent topic as both nations seek to fulfill their obligations under the Washington Accords.
