London: Representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to implementing a landmark peace agreement following talks in London attended by the State of Qatar, the United States of America, the Republic of Togo and the African Union Commission.
The sixth meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee, established to monitor implementation of the peace accord between the two neighboring countries, reviewed developments since its previous session and assessed progress towards reducing tensions in eastern DRC, a region that has experienced years of instability and armed conflict.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the committee expressed deep concern over escalating violence in eastern Congo, warning that continued fighting, including drone attacks affecting civilians, posed a serious threat to both the peace process and the humanitarian situation. Participants also highlighted concerns over the continued spread of Ebola in affected areas.
The committee stressed the urgent need for practical measures to ensure the effective implementation of the ceasefire and prevent further deterioration of security conditions. During the meeting, the Democratic Republic of the Congo briefed participants on its efforts to neutralize the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), an armed group operating in eastern Congo.
Rwanda, meanwhile, provided an update on steps related to the disengagement of its forces and the reduction of defensive measures linked to the conflict.
Both governments reiterated their commitment to fully implementing the peace agreement signed on June 27, 2025. The two sides pledged to support immediate de-escalation efforts, particularly in the Minembwe area, and to use their influence with actors on the ground to help maintain stability. Participants also discussed strengthening verification and monitoring mechanisms.
The committee backed proposals to expand the mandate of the Enhanced Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+) so that it can monitor compliance with commitments contained in the Washington agreements.
The parties further supported the rapid deployment of the mechanism to carry out its first verification mission and called on all stakeholders to facilitate its work.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of intelligence-sharing and security coordination through the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM), with the aim of developing a shared understanding of future operational steps required to implement the agreements.
The committee voiced strong support for ongoing negotiations between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Congo River Alliance/M23 movement under the Doha process.
Participants highlighted the importance of confidence-building measures, including avoiding hostile actions or rhetoric that could undermine implementation of the peace agreements or complicate diplomatic efforts in international forums.
The DRC and Rwanda expressed appreciation to the State of Qatar, the United States, Togo and the African Union Commission for their continued contributions to the peace process.
They also thanked the United Kingdom for hosting the latest round of discussions in London. Qatar has played an increasingly prominent role in efforts to facilitate dialogue between parties involved in the conflict, with the Doha track emerging as one of the key diplomatic channels supporting broader regional peace initiatives.
The next meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism is expected to take place within the next 15 days as efforts continue to consolidate the ceasefire and advance implementation of the peace agreement.
