Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of Rwanda, the United States, the State of Qatar, and the African Union Commission met in Washington, D.C. on October 21-22, 2025, for the third session of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM). The meeting aimed to further the implementation of the Washington Peace Agreement, which was signed on June 27, 2025.
According to a joint statement released by the participating governments, the JSCM members reaffirmed their commitment to the Operations Order (OPORD), which acts as the plan for carrying out the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that was negotiated in previous meetings and finalized at the Joint Oversight Committee (JOC) meeting on October 1.
The participants reviewed the progress made since the JSCM meeting held on September 17-18 and the JOC meeting on October 1. These efforts have focused on Phase 1 of the OPORD, which includes preparation through threat analysis and information sharing. Building on this work, the parties coordinated specific actions aimed at neutralizing the FDLR and lifting Rwanda’s defensive measures.
The statement noted that JSCM members planned to continue monitoring progress and addressing challenges. They also confirmed that the fourth JSCM meeting is scheduled for November 19-20.
The governments of the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation to the United States, Qatar, and the African Union for their ongoing support and facilitation of the peace process.
“All participants remain committed to advancing durable peace and stability in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region,” the statement said.
