DRC and Rwanda Reaffirm Commitment to Peace Agreement and De-escalation in Minembwe

London, June 25, 2026 - The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda have reaffirmed their commitment to fully implementing the June 27, 2025 peace agreement and to taking immediate steps to reduce tensions in the Minembwe area.

The commitments were announced following the sixth meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee, which brought together representatives from the DRC, Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo, acting as the African Union mediator, and the African Union Commission.

Participants expressed concern over the escalation of fighting in eastern DRC, the impact of drone strikes on civilians, and the worsening humanitarian situation, including the ongoing Ebola outbreak. They stressed the need to ensure that the ceasefire is fully respected.

During the meeting, the DRC presented updates on efforts to neutralize the FDLR, while Rwanda outlined progress regarding the disengagement of its forces and the lifting of defensive measures.

Both countries agreed to use their influence with actors on the ground to help reduce tensions in Minembwe, support the rapid deployment of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM+), and strengthen intelligence sharing through the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism to advance implementation of the peace agreement.

The two governments also reaffirmed their support for ongoing negotiations between the DRC and AFC/M23 under the Doha process and pledged to avoid actions or public statements that could undermine ongoing peace efforts.