Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, along with observers from the United States, Qatar, Togo (as African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission convened in Washington, D.C. for the first meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee overseeing the Peace Agreement signed between DRC and Rwanda on June 27, 2025.
The committee is tasked with implementing and resolving disputes related to the peace agreement. Its responsibilities include receiving complaints about violations, addressing these issues, and settling disputes amicably. At this initial meeting, members selected Chairpersons for the Committee, adopted terms of reference for future meetings, reviewed progress on implementing the agreement, and prepared for an upcoming session of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
According to a joint statement released by all parties: "The African Union, State of Qatar, and the United States participated in these discussions to ensure complementarity and alignment between implementation efforts and on-going initiatives aimed at dialogue and durable peace in the region. Both the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation for the invaluable contributions and joint efforts of the African Union, United States, and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution."
This inaugural session marks a step toward coordinated oversight of peace efforts between DRC and Rwanda.