WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — Officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, joined by the United States, Qatar, Togo, and the African Union, acknowledged Wednesday that progress has been slow in implementing their June peace deal and pledged to move faster to end violence in eastern Congo.
The governments met in Washington for the second Joint Oversight Committee meeting on the peace agreement signed June 27. The talks focused on reports of continued fighting, the return of refugees, and steps to end state support for armed groups in the region.
“Committee members underscored their shared resolve to ensure complete and timely implementation to advance peace, stability, and prosperity in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region,” the group said in a joint statement.
Rwanda reaffirmed its respect for Congo’s territorial integrity, while Kinshasa reiterated there is no government policy of backing the FDLR militia. Both sides committed to stop supporting non-state armed groups and to share intelligence ahead of the next security coordination meeting in Doha.
Qatar, which is mediating separate talks with the M23 rebels, briefed the committee on negotiations aimed at stabilizing eastern Congo.
The statement said the African Union will play a central role in overseeing the agreement’s implementation, with a new joint secretariat formed by regional organizations to coordinate efforts.
The committee vowed to meet regularly to address challenges and monitor progress, thanking the U.S., Qatar, and the AU for their support.
