Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have formally commenced implementation of their U.S.-brokered peace agreement with the inaugural session of the Joint Oversight Committee held on July 31, 2025.
- Rwanda and the DRC held the first session of their Joint Oversight Committee under a U.S.-brokered peace deal.
- This marks a significant step toward addressing tensions and rebuilding trust between the two nations.
- The session established the committee’s chairpersons, terms of reference, and preparations for the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
The meeting marks a cautious yet significant step toward de-escalating tensions and rebuilding trust between the two countries, whose relations have long been marred by mutual accusations of supporting rebel groups and fostering border insecurity.
Convened under the terms of the Washington peace deal signed in June, the session included the selection of committee chairpersons, the adoption of terms of reference, and initial preparations for the launch of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
This mechanism is expected to play a key role in enhancing intelligence sharing, strengthening border surveillance, and coordinating responses to armed groups operating along the volatile frontier.
In a statement released by the U.S. Department of State, the Joint Oversight Committee was described as the designated body to ensure effective implementation and conflict resolution under the peace accord.
“The Committee is responsible for receiving complaints about violations of the agreement, taking appropriate measures to address violations, and amicably settling disputes,” the statement said.
According to officials present at the meeting, the two sides discussed initial progress on implementing the agreement and finalized logistics for the upcoming launch of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism, which is expected to provide the operational backbone for sustained peacebuilding efforts between Kigali and Kinshasa.
DRC-Rwanda Decade-Long Rift Nears End
The decade-long crisis between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda may finally be nearing a resolution, as both countries begin taking concrete steps to implement a U.S.-brokered peace agreement.
Long marked by deep mistrust, cross-border rebel activity, and accusations of proxy warfare in eastern Congo, the relationship between the two neighbours has now entered a cautious but potentially transformative diplomatic phase.
For more than a decade, tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali have been fueled by allegations that Rwanda supports the M23 rebel group, alongside Congo’s persistent struggle to secure its volatile eastern provinces. The conflict has displaced millions, destabilised the Great Lakes region, and repeatedly derailed regional peace initiatives.
While optimism remains guarded, observers view this development as a meaningful attempt to establish a sustained diplomatic framework between Kigali and Kinshasa.
Both governments face growing regional and international pressure to pursue a political solution rather than military confrontation, especially in the volatile eastern Congo region.
