For the first time, the Rwanda-DR Congo joint security mechanism meets

The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism was created by the US-brokered peace deal that Rwanda and DR Congo signed in late June, and its first meeting took place on Thursday, August, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The FDLR, a militia established by those responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, will be neutralized, and Rwanda’s defensive measures will be lifted, among other things, according to the deal reached in Washington, DC.

Since peace and prosperity are intertwined, the mechanism was designed to allow both nations to collaborate with regional and global partners to advance security, stability, and development in the area.

It is responsible for putting in place coordinated protocols and reporting systems to guarantee openness in actions meant to bring DR Congo’s assistance for the FDLR and associated armed groups to a verifiable and permanent halt. It also aims to outlaw any kind of assistance for the militia, both domestically and internationally.

Furthermore, the mechanism seeks to facilitate procedures for detecting, evaluating, locating, and neutralizing the FDLR in accordance with the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), which was established in Luanda, Angola in 2024. The Washington agreement expanded upon the CONOPS, a document that was adopted during Rwanda-DR Congo negotiations mediated by Angola.

The first meeting of a joint oversight group that would oversee the Washington agreement’s implementation was place last week. It was attended by representatives of the African Union, represented by President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, the AU-appointed mediator for DR Congo’s efforts, Rwanda, the United States, and Qatar.

Overseeing implementation, settling conflicts, and dealing with any infractions of the June 27 peace deal are the responsibilities of the committee.