Doha: Following the sixth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held this week in Geneva (Switzerland), the governments of the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission released a joint statement emphasizing their ongoing commitment to the peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.
According to Qatar News Agency, the meeting on August 12-13, 2026, brought together representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, along with officials from the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union Commission. The meeting was held at the US Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of the ongoing efforts to monitor and verify the implementation of the Washington Accords.
During the meeting, the DRC and Rwanda agreed on two key initiatives aimed at enhancing the monitoring and verification of the peace agreement. They have requested feedback from the United States on these initiatives during the next JSCM. A trilateral planning conference is scheduled for October 2026, which will result in a revised Operations Order to guide coordinated efforts.
The African Union Commission shared insights from the recent African Union High-Level Meeting held in Gaborone, Botswana, in July 2026. Additionally, the DRC presented its Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Plan for the Forces D©mocratiques de Lib©ration du Rwanda and engaged with JSCM members on related queries. A virtual session was also held with MONUSCO to leverage its experience in DDR operations in the region.
The governments involved expressed gratitude to the supporting nations and organizations and agreed to meet again for the next JSCM on September 16-17 in Geneva.