Keypoints:
- First oversight meeting held in Washington
- Troop withdrawal and security mechanism delayed
- US says process ‘on track’ for now
RWANDA and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) held their inaugural session of the joint oversight committee in Washington on Thursday. The meeting marks a tangible first step toward implementing the peace accord signed on June 27, 2025, brokered by the US administration under former President Trump, with backing from Qatar and the African Union. The initiative aims to end chronic violence in the mineral‑rich eastern DRC, home to tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper and lithium.
Major commitments still unfulfilled
Under the agreement, Rwanda was to withdraw its troops from eastern DRC within 90 days, while both nations agreed to establish a joint security coordination mechanism within 30 days, and to monitor and verify the withdrawal within three months. Military operations against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) were to end in parallel. Yet by the time of the Washington meeting, the joint security mechanism had not met, troop withdrawal had not begun, and operations targeting the FDLR had not started.
US assures observers process still on course
Despite the delays, Massad Boulos, the US President’s senior Africa adviser, told reporters the deal remained on track. He highlighted progress since April, noted that a Security Committee meeting would be scheduled soon, and clarified that while there is no fixed timeline for certain steps, overall momentum is aligned with US objectives for regional stability.
Rebel entrenchment casts uncertainty on peace
Sources involved in the negotiation process admit the implementation is lagging but believe the framework remains intact. On the ground, however, armed groups such as M23 and the Wazalendo militia are strengthening positions in eastern DRC, raising concerns that continued insecurity could undermine confidence in the peace process if promised withdrawals and security coordination don’t begin soon.
