from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – EFFORTS to stabilise the troubled eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) gained renewed momentum this week as regional governments and international partners convened in Washington for the fourth Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) meeting — a crucial platform for implementing the Washington Peace Agreement signed in June 2025.
The discussions, attended by representatives from the DRC, Rwanda, the United States, Qatar, Togo (as African Union mediator), and the African Union Commission, came at a time of heightened tension in the Great Lakes region.
Millions of civilians — including Congolese communities and thousands of Rwandans living in and around Goma — continue to face insecurity as rebel activity escalates.
At the meeting, the DRC and Rwanda recommitted to advancing the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the disengagement of forces, a central pillar of the peace agreement.
Delegates reviewed progress on intelligence-sharing, community sensitisation, and demobilisation efforts, while acknowledging that Phase One has been hindered by persistent instability fueled by a proliferation of armed groups.
Diplomats noted that many of these groups — including those operating near Goma — are foreign-backed, exploiting the region’s porous borders and weak state presence.
Analysts warn that the repeated influx of weapons and illicit financing has prolonged violence, uprooted communities, and created space for criminal networks to plunder the DRC’s vast mineral wealth.
Local civil society organisations argue that foreign interests have historically benefitted from instability, particularly in regions rich in coltan, cobalt, and gold.
These concerns were echoed during the JSCM deliberations, with participants underscoring that lasting peace is impossible without dismantling the economic networks that sustain armed groups.
The meeting also emphasised the urgent humanitarian needs of civilians trapped between rival militias and defensive deployments, including Rwandan communities in Goma who remain vulnerable to retaliatory violence and displacement.
Participants also praised the recent Doha Framework Agreement involving the Congolese government and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/M23 faction — a development seen as complementary to the Washington process.
The two tracks aim to reduce hostilities, strengthen diplomatic coordination, and pave the way for long-term reintegration of ex-combatants.
Looking ahead, Togo will host a high-level meeting in January 2026 to consolidate peace initiatives across the DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
As the JSCM concluded, all parties reaffirmed their commitment to ending the conflict, neutralising foreign-backed rebel networks, protecting civilians, and building a stable eastern DRC where local communities — Congolese and Rwandan alike — can live without fear.
– CAJ News