DRC and Rwanda Reaffirm Security Commitments at 4th Joint Mechanism Meeting in Washington

Washington, D.C., November 19-20, 2025 - The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda convened the fourth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism in Washington, D.C., with participation from representatives of the United States, Qatar, and Togo, acting as the African Union mediator.

The talks aimed to accelerate the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed on June 27, 2025, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to the Order of Operations (OPORD) and the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) of the Harmonized Plan. This framework focuses on neutralizing the FDLR, disengaging Rwandan forces, and lifting Rwandan defensive measures.

The meeting assessed progress in the first phase of ongoing security operations, including intelligence sharing and awareness-raising activities led by the DRC, while addressing the challenges of the second phase, which emphasizes neutralization and disengagement.

Participants underscored the alignment between the Washington and Doha peace processes, welcoming the recent Doha Framework Agreement signed between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 coalition. A high-level follow-up meeting is scheduled for January 17, 2026, in Togo, intended to consolidate progress in the Great Lakes peace process.