Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Washington agreement, a framework aimed at addressing security challenges in eastern DRC.
The commitment was made during the fifth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (MCCS), held on July 15 and 16 at the United States mission in Geneva, Switzerland.
The meeting brought together representatives from Rwanda and the DRC, as well as officials from the United States, Qatar, Togo — serving as the African Union (AU) facilitator — and the AU Commission.
Discussions focused on the security situation in eastern DRC and ways to advance the measures outlined in the Washington agreement, according to the US Department of State.
The two sides reviewed developments on the ground and discussed the implementation of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), which provides a framework for planned security actions.
However, no new timeline or detailed update on progress under CONOPS was provided.
In a joint statement issued after the meeting, Rwanda and the DRC said they would accelerate key commitments under the agreement, including efforts to neutralize the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and remove defensive measures adopted by both sides.
“Rwanda and the DRC reaffirmed their commitment to the swift implementation of the Washington agreement, including accelerating efforts to neutralize the FDLR and remove defensive measures that had been put in place,” the statement said.
The two countries also agreed to continue exchanging security information to improve coordination and maintain a shared understanding of developments in eastern DRC.
Participants commended the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union for their role in supporting the peace process, describing the Washington agreement as an opportunity to advance stability, security and development in the Great Lakes region.
The parties agreed to hold another meeting in the coming weeks to review progress on implementation.
The Geneva meeting followed earlier discussions in London and came a month after the United Nations Security Council reviewed the security situation in eastern DRC.
During that meeting, US Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said both Rwanda and the DRC had not fully implemented their commitments under the peace framework.
He said Kinshasa had not made sufficient progress in disarming the FDLR, while Kigali had been accused of maintaining defensive measures and supporting the AFC/M23 coalition.
Boulos urged both sides to move faster in implementing agreed measures, warning that continued delays could undermine efforts to restore peace in the region.
He also said the United States was prepared to impose sanctions on individuals or entities that obstruct the peace process, including military officials and those linked to illegal mineral trading.
