U.S. welcomes DRC call for FDLR to disarm, urges orderly surrender under Washington agreement

The United States on Friday welcomed a decision by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) calling on fighters of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to lay down their arms and surrender to either Congolese authorities or the United Nations peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO. The U.S. reaction framed the move as a key step in implementing the Washington peace agreement signed by Kinshasa and Kigali on June 27, 2025.

A statement issued by the DRC Armed Forces (FARDC) and signed by Major General Sylvain Ekenge Bomusa on October 10, 2025, urged FDLR fighters to disarm and surrender “to the government or MONUSCO.” The military message said the order follows an operational directive adopted on October 1 and reiterated that FARDC personnel are forbidden from cooperating with the FDLR in any form. It also warned that the FARDC “will disarm by force” those who refuse to lay down arms.

U.S. Senior Advisor on Africa Massad Boulos echoed those calls on X, describing Kinshasa’s directive as “a major step in the implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement.” Boulos said the move would facilitate the transfer of refugees, consolidate government authority, and bolster regional efforts to restore peace and security in the Great Lakes region. His post said the DRC’s announcement aligns with provisions of the June 27 accord that envisage the neutralization of the FDLR and related security measures monitored by a Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.

Why the DRC move matters - and why it is complicated

The Washington agreement between the DRC and Rwanda commits both countries to a package of steps including cessation of hostilities, disengagement of forces, and a harmonized plan to neutralize the FDLR. The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) created under that deal is tasked with overseeing aspects of the FDLR neutralization and other security provisions. International backers - led by the United States - have made implementation of those provisions central to the broader push for stability.

But convincing FDLR elements to disarm - and ensuring they do so without fueling further violence - will be difficult. United Nations and independent reporting over recent years has documented complex and sometimes opaque ties between some FDLR elements and Congolese armed groups, including allegations that former FDLR combatants or sympathizers have embedded in local militias or obtained protection from elements within the FARDC. Those overlapping loyalties, and the presence of rival armed formations such as the so-called “Wazalendo” groups, complicate identification and separation of genuine FDLR combatants from other fighters.

Questions of verification, protection and political will

Observers say three practical challenges will determine whether the DRC’s call leads to meaningful disarmament rather than a brief public relations gesture:

Verification: Who will verify that those surrendering are bona fide FDLR fighters and not members of other groups or irregulars attempting to avoid accountability? The JSCM and MONUSCO have roles to play, but their access and acceptance on the ground will be essential.

Security for surrendering combatants: Disarmament programs usually require guarantees on how former fighters will be treated - repatriation, demobilization, reintegration, or prosecution. The Washington agreement sketches a framework but does not eliminate the practical risks fighters fear if they give up arms.

Domestic enforcement: The FARDC’s own conduct will be scrutinized. The new military directive forbids cooperation with the FDLR, but critics note past instances where lines were blurred - making consistent enforcement critical to credibility.

Washington’s public support for Kinshasa’s call signals continued U.S. investment in the Washington process and in mechanisms - such as the JSCM - expected to monitor implementation. U.S. officials have tied political and technical support for the region to tangible progress on neutralizing the FDLR and reducing cross-border security risks. Reuters, AP and U.S. State Department material released around the June 27 signing likewise framed the deal as a package that links security, political confidence-building and regional economic cooperation.

The DRC’s October 10 directive - and U.S. endorsement - mark a potential turning point in the Washington-led push to address one of the most intractable armed groups in the eastern DRC. Yet success will depend on careful, credible verification, protections for surrendering fighters, and a demonstrable, consistent break between elements of the FARDC and armed proxies. Without those safeguards, the order could struggle to produce the disarmament and stabilization its authors envision.