GENEVA, Switzerland — August 13, 2026 — The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have agreed to advance new measures aimed at strengthening the monitoring and verification of the implementation of their peace agreement.
The agreement was reached during the sixth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), held on August 12 and 13 at the United States Mission in Geneva, Switzerland.
Representatives of the DRC and Rwanda attended the meeting alongside officials from the United States, Qatar, Togo, acting as the African Union mediator, and the African Union Commission.
The meeting forms part of continuing international efforts to support the implementation of the peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda and improve security coordination between the two countries.
New monitoring initiatives agreed
During the Geneva meeting, the DRC and Rwanda agreed to pursue two initiatives designed to improve monitoring and verification of the implementation of the Washington Accords on the ground.
The two countries requested that the United States examine the proposals and provide feedback during the next meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
The parties also agreed to hold a trilateral planning conference in October 2026. The conference is expected to lead to a revised Operations Order that will guide coordinated efforts under the peace process.
The initiatives are intended to strengthen practical oversight of commitments made under the agreement and improve coordination among the parties involved.
African Union briefs peace mechanism
The African Union Commission briefed participants on the outcome of the African Union High-Level Meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana, on July 24 and 25, 2026.
The briefing provided an opportunity for participants in the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism to consider developments and decisions arising from the regional meeting as they relate to the wider peace process.
DRC presents FDLR disarmament plan
Another major issue discussed in Geneva was the disarmament and reintegration of members of the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR).
The DRC presented its Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Plan for the group and responded to questions from members of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
Following the presentation, participants held a virtual session with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
The session allowed members of the mechanism to draw on MONUSCO's operational experience in implementing disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes in the region.
Next meeting scheduled for September
The DRC and Rwanda expressed appreciation to the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union Commission for their continued support throughout the peace process.
The parties agreed to reconvene for the next meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism on September 16 and 17, 2026, in Geneva.
The upcoming meeting is expected to provide an opportunity to review progress on the agreed initiatives and continue discussions on security coordination and implementation of the peace agreement.
Why the Geneva meeting matters
The latest JSCM meeting represents another step in efforts to translate the DRC-Rwanda peace agreement into practical security arrangements.
With continued attention on monitoring, verification, disarmament and regional coordination, the participating governments and organisations are seeking to strengthen implementation mechanisms and address security concerns affecting the Great Lakes region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Source: Joint Statement issued by the Governments of the United States, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of Rwanda, State of Qatar, Republic of Togo and the African Union Commission, August 13, 2026.
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