For the first time, the Rwanda-DR Congo peace oversight committee meets

A joint oversight group was set up to make sure that the peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) was carried out. Its first meeting was on July 31 in Washington, D.C.

The United States, DR Congo, Rwanda, and Qatar, as well as Togo, who was representing the leadership of the African Union, were among the countries that were there.

The committee’s job is to make sure that the June 27 Washington peace plan is followed, settle disagreements, and deal with any violations of its rules.

The Washington, D.C., peace deal is mostly about getting rid of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a group that was started by people who killed Tutsi people in 1994, and easing up on Rwanda’s defenses. The statement of principles that was signed in Washington, D.C., on April 25 is built on this one.

The countries that held the first meeting of the joint oversight committee said in a joint statement that the parties chose their chairpersons, agreed on the topics that would be covered at future meetings, and looked at how the agreement was being put into action.

The countries also made plans for the first meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism as part of the initial meeting.

The Washington peace deal also agreed to set up a way for both sides to work together on security issues. The agreement said that it had to be done within 30 days of the deal being signed.

The goal of the mechanism is to set up shared working procedures and ways of reporting to make sure that everyone knows the size and scope of operations.

DR Congo and Rwanda “expressed their appreciation for the invaluable contributions and joint efforts” of the African Union, the US, and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution after the first meeting of the joint oversight committee on Thursday.