Rwanda and DR Congo delegations to meet in Washington over June 27 Peace Deal Implementation
Delegations from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are expected to meet in Washington this Friday for a high-level session of the Joint Monitoring Committee, established to oversee the implementation of the June 27 peace agreement brokered by the United States.
The committee is tasked with receiving complaints from both parties, reviewing alleged violations of the agreement, and facilitating dispute resolution, amid ongoing tensions in eastern DRC — much of which remains under the control of the AFC/M23 rebel coalition.
The Washington meeting comes against the backdrop of renewed accusations between Kigali and Kinshasa. Rwanda has accused the Congolese government of recruiting new foreign mercenaries, including Colombians, to bolster its forces. Kigali also maintains that Burundian troops, estimated at around 14,000 soldiers, are currently operating in eastern Congo — a figure made public by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
A key sticking point remains the issue of dismantling the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a militia composed largely of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. According to RFI reports, while Congolese forces have publicly called on FDLR combatants to surrender, Rwanda insists that only tangible action will demonstrate Kinshasa’s commitment to eliminating the group.
Kigali has also accused DRC of encouraging FDLR members living in Europe to organize campaigns aimed at destabilizing Rwanda — an allegation Congo strongly denies.
Last week, the Congolese army (FARDC) announced the launch of a campaign in Walikale aimed at persuading FDLR fighters to surrender voluntarily. Senior FARDC officials have since been deployed to the area to coordinate the initiative.
Meanwhile, Kinshasa continues to accuse Rwanda of maintaining military presence inside its territory and backing the AFC/M23 movement — claims Kigali has repeatedly rejected. Congo says these concerns explain why regional economic agreements have not been signed and underline the importance of the upcoming monitoring committee meeting in Washington, which aims to assess progress in implementing the June 27 accords.
