DR Congo and Rwanda Accelerate Washington Accord Implementation at Geneva Security Talks

The fifth meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism was held in Geneva on 15‑16 July 2026, bringing together representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo and the African Union. Both governments said they are hastening the implementation of the 2025 Washington Accord: Kinshasa reported steps to neutralise the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), while Kigali announced progress toward lifting its defensive measures and withdrawing forces from eastern DRC.

U.S. officials highlighted the reported progress but noted that a mid‑July deadline, set earlier by Senator Marco Rubio for the removal of Rwandan troops, had not been met, and fighting continues in the region. Kinshasa and Kigali continue to blame each other for delays in meeting their obligations.

The parties reaffirmed commitment to ongoing intelligence sharing, monitoring of security commitments and regular information exchange as they work to stabilise the Great Lakes region.