Delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda are meeting in Washington on 21 and 22 October for the third session of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, aimed at advancing the peace agreement signed in June 2025, under U.S. mediation.
The talks mark a potential turning point in efforts to normalise relations between Kinshasa and Kigali. During their last meeting in September, both sides agreed to implement the “Concept of Operations” (Conops) beginning 1 October — a plan outlining the phased approach to military coordination against the Rwandan rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). Following this decision, the Congolese army (FARDC) called on FDLR fighters to surrender either to Congolese forces or to the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO.
However, reports indicate that no FDLR members have surrendered to date, prompting the Washington discussions to focus on evaluating the first phase of the campaign — which involved planning, awareness, coordination and intelligence sharing.
The next stage, according to the Conops framework, will involve targeted military operations, the lifting of Rwanda’s so-called defensive measures, and the cessation of sporadic cross-border actions. Observers note that the success of this phase will depend on whether both parties can maintain cooperation and uphold their commitments, despite recent rhetorical tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali.