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| High-level delegations from the DRC, US, and Rwanda during peace mediation talks.. Source: TRT Afrika |
GENEVA — High-level delegations from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have concluded a pivotal two-day security summit in Switzerland, emerging with a renewed commitment to defuse the long-standing conflict in eastern DRC.
The discussions, which took place on 15–16 July 2026, marked the fifth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM). Hosted at the US Mission in Geneva, the summit brought the two rival nations to the negotiating table alongside a coalition of international mediators, including representatives from the United States, Qatar, Togo (acting as the African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission.
Amid persistent regional instability, both countries evaluated the volatile security landscape in eastern DRC in a bid to establish a unified, objective understanding of the situation on the ground.
Crucially, the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their determination to fast-track the implementation of the historic Washington Accords. This includes accelerating coordinated efforts to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR)—a prominent rebel militia operating in the region—and initiating the disengagement of military forces alongside the lifting of defensive measures.
To bolster trust in a region long plagued by broken ceasefires, the two parties agreed to explore new, independent verification mechanisms to ensure both sides remain transparent and accountable to their treaty promises.
The summit also focused on the logistics of regional demilitarisation. Attendees received a briefing from the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) regarding its Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) branch. The delegation analysed how MONUSCO’s repatriation of FDLR fighters directly supports the goals of the Washington Accords, mapping out concrete steps to tighten coordination between UN forces and state governments.
In a joint statement, the DRC and Rwanda committed to a system of regular, direct information sharing to prevent miscalculations on the ground.
Expressing gratitude to the US, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union for their diplomatic mediation, the parties declared that the Washington Accords represent an "historic opportunity" to bring lasting stability and economic progress to the Great Lakes region.
The two nations have agreed to reconvene in the coming weeks to formally assess their progress.
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