Joint Statement on the Second Meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda

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Country/entity: Democratic Republic of Congo
Rwanda
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Statement on the Second Meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda
Date: 24 Sep 2025
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Interstate/intrastate conflict(s)
Congo Civil Wars (1996 - )
The overthrow of the long-term dictator Mobutu Sese Seko by a rebel Tutsi army backed by Uganda and Rwanda in 1997 acted as a catalyst for a war with regional dimensions, mainly fought in the eastern Kivu provinces. The conflict escalated in 1998, when President Laurent Kabila, then backed by Zimbabwean and Angolan troops, ordered Rwanda and Uganda to leave. After Kabila’s assassination in 2001, his son Joseph took over the presidency and won in the 2006 democratic elections.

In the eastern provinces, Tutsi-led militias, mainly organised in the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), fought the remnants of the Rwandan Hutu force FDLR, with further involvement of Rwandan and Ugandan troops. Other regionally operating militia groups, like the Lord’s Resistance Army from Northern Uganda, the so-called Mai Mai groups or guerrilla outfits like the March 23 Movement (M23) further contributed, and still contribute, to the complexity of the situation in eastern DRC.

Following Joseph Kabila's departure in 2019, his successor Félix Tshisekedi faced renewed instability as the M23 rebel group, dormant since 2013, resumed operations in late 2021 with substantial Rwandan support. In January 2025, M23 forces backed by Rwandan troops captured the regional capital Goma in the most serious escalation since the Second Congo War. This prompted U.S. mediation under President Trump, leading to talks in Qatar in March 2025 and a preliminary peace agreement signed in Washington on June 27, 2025. The Washington Accords were formally signed by Presidents Tshisekedi and Kagame on December 4, 2025, committing Rwanda to withdraw troops and cease M23 support while the DRC pledged to neutralize the FDLR and establish regional economic integration with significant U.S. commercial involvement. However, fighting continues as of late 2025, with both sides accused of violating commitments.
Stage: Implementation/renegotiation
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: DRC: the Doha Track for Eastern DRC
Parties: Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Representatives from the Republic of Rwanda
Third parties: United States
State of Qatar
Republic of Togo (serving as African Union facilitator)
African Union Commission
Description: This joint statement reports on a September 17-18, 2025 meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism to advance implementation of a peace agreement signed June 27, 2025 between the DRC and Rwanda. The parties developed an Operational Order (OPORD) to implement a plan for neutralizing the FDLR rebel group and agreed to begin implementation on October 1, 2025. The statement reaffirms commitments to restore DRC authority in eastern regions, lift Rwanda's defensive measures, and rebuild trust between the two countries.

Agreement document: CD_RW_250924_Joint Statement on the Second Meeting (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Source of document: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/09/joint-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-joint-security-coordination-mechanism-for-the-peace-agreement-between-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-and-the-republic-of-rwanda

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: This shared intelligence picture was used to develop a phased approach to implement the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the neutralization of the FDLR and its associated groups, and disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: This shared intelligence picture was used to develop a phased approach to implement the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the neutralization of the FDLR and its associated groups, and disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: The text of the following statement was released by 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 facilitator), and the African Union Commission on the occasion of the second Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held last week in Washington, D.C.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: On September 17-18, 2025, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda, along with the United States, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission convened the second meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) in Washington, D.C. to advance the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed on June 27, 2025.
JSCM members reviewed the current security posture in eastern DRC and exchanged intelligence and information to establish a shared understanding of the situation on the ground.
During the two-day meeting, the parties negotiated an Operational Order (OPORD) to advance the CONOPS.
The parties agreed to begin implementation of the OPORD on October 1, 2025.

Joint Statement on the Second Meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

September 24, 2025

The text of the following statement was released by 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 facilitator), and the African Union Commission on the occasion of the second Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held last week in Washington, D.C.

Begin text:

On September 17-18, 2025, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda, along with the United States, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission convened the second meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) in Washington, D.C. to advance the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed on June 27, 2025.

JSCM members reviewed the current security posture in eastern DRC and exchanged intelligence and information to establish a shared understanding of the situation on the ground.

This shared intelligence picture was used to develop a phased approach to implement the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the neutralization of the FDLR and its associated groups, and disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda.

The Governments of the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitments to the desired end state outlined in the CONOPS, which includes that the threat of FDLR in the DRC is eradicated, Rwanda’s defensive measures are lifted, the DRC’s authority is restored, and trust between the DRC and Rwanda is reestablished.

During the two-day meeting, the parties negotiated an Operational Order (OPORD) to advance the CONOPS.

The parties agreed to begin implementation of the OPORD on October 1, 2025.

The Governments of the DRC and Rwanda expressed their gratitude to the United States, Qatar, the African Union, and Togo for their continued support and facilitation of the peace process.

All parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing durable peace and stability in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.

End text.

Joint Statement on the Second Meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda

Groups

Gender

State definition

Governance

Power sharing

Human rights and equality

Rights related issues

Rights institutions

Justice sector reform

Socio-economic reconstruction

Land, property and environment

Security sector

Transitional justice

Implementation

Source agreement