Representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda met in Washington, D.C. on July 31, 2025, for the first meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee established under their recently signed peace agreement. The gathering included observers from the United States, State of Qatar, Republic of Togo (acting as African Union facilitator), and the African Union Commission.
The committee was formed following a peace agreement between the two countries signed in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025. Its mandate is to provide a forum for implementing and resolving disputes related to the agreement. The committee is tasked with receiving complaints about violations, addressing them appropriately, and settling disputes amicably.
During this initial session, participants selected Chairpersons for the committee and adopted terms of reference to guide future meetings. They also reviewed progress on implementing the agreement and made preparations for an upcoming meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism.
Observers from the African Union, State of Qatar, and United States joined discussions to ensure that efforts are coordinated with other ongoing initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and long-term peace in Central Africa.
Both Congolese and Rwandan representatives acknowledged "the invaluable contributions and joint efforts of the African Union, United States, and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution."