DRC Moves to Establish Steering Committee for Washington Accords Implementation

Kinshasa, DRC - January 11, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking steps to implement the Washington Accords, signed under the auspices of the Trump administration on December 4, 2025. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa announced at the Council of Ministers meeting on January 9, 2026, that she had convened a working session on January 8 with ministers responsible for executing these accords. The session aimed to establish a government-level framework to streamline projects and ensure implementation in line with the President’s policy. A steering committee will be created to develop a roadmap to coordinate government actions and monitor commitments under the accords. Prime Minister Suminwa also plans to meet with the expanded Economic Situation Committee on January 13, 2026, to harmonize actions and clarify clauses in the agreements. The Washington Accords, described as historic, reaffirm the DRC-Rwanda peace agreement of June 27, 2025, and aim to foster economic cooperation, regional integration, and lasting peace. They include the Regional Economic Integration Framework (REIF) and multiple bilateral instruments with the United States, including the Strategic Partnership Agreement, the Enhanced Security Partnership, and the US-Rwanda Framework for Shared Economic Prosperity. Despite government support, the accords face criticism within the DRC. Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Lubumbashi criticized the agreements as a potential “sell-off”, warning that they could sacrifice national development and compromise the future of the Congolese people.