Rwanda And DR Congo Hold First Joint Oversight Committee Meeting

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo convened the inaugural meeting of a joint oversight committee on Thursday, marking a significant step toward implementing a peace agreement brokered last month in Washington even as several key commitments remain unfulfilled.

The meeting, held in Washington, included representatives from the African Union, Qatar, and the United States. The oversight committee was established to facilitate implementation and resolve disputes related to the agreement.

The June peace accord, seen as a diplomatic breakthrough by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to end longstanding violence in eastern Congo a region rich in valuable minerals such as tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, and lithium. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and drawn billions of dollars in foreign investment.

Under the terms of the Washington deal, Rwanda agreed to withdraw its troops from eastern Congo within 90 days, while both countries committed to forming a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days. The agreement also called for the activation of a previously negotiated plan to monitor and verify the withdrawal process within three months.

Simultaneously, Congolese military operations targeting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) a rebel group composed of remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide were to conclude within the same timeframe.

However, more than 30 days after the agreement was signed, the joint security coordination mechanism has yet to meet, and no tangible steps have been taken toward either the withdrawal of Rwandan troops or operations against the FDLR.

Despite this, the joint oversight committee convened within the required 45-day window, staying on schedule.

Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for African affairs, told reporters on Wednesday that the peace process remains on track. He stated that an announcement regarding the security mechanism’s first meeting would be made soon.

Responding to concerns over the delayed military actions, Boulos said: “There was no timeline for that. If you look at the progress made since April, it has been substantial, consistent, and aligned with our objectives. So it’s not off track at all.”

Nonetheless, sources familiar with the negotiations acknowledged delays in implementation but maintained that the overall agreement remains intact.

Military and diplomatic sources told Reuters that conflict actors including the M23 rebel group and pro-government militia fighters known as the Wazalendo have continued to build up their forces along the front lines, raising tensions in the volatile region.