Washington Accord: Kinshasa demands a concrete and verifiable response from Rwanda to the progress made by the DRC

While Kinshasa and Kigali still struggle to speak the same language, despite the signing of the Washington peace agreement under the auspices of the United States of America, hostilities continue on the ground between government forces and the AFC/M23 rebellion, supported by Rwanda and becoming the Front for the Rebuilding of the Nation (FRN) in the East of the DRC, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay, the permanent representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the United Nations (UN), calls for the effective implementation of peace commitments, stressing that the efforts made by Kinshasa must be accompanied by concrete, parallel, and verifiable measures from Kigali. Speaking at a session of the UN Security Council focused on the security situation in the Great Lakes region and diplomatic efforts, particularly the Washington Agreement aimed at restoring peace and security in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay insists on the need to clarify the responsibilities of the parties and guarantee respect for international commitments. Addressing the issue of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Congolese diplomat reaffirms Kinshasa's will to pursue the announced measures regarding disarmament, cantonment, and repatriation, according to the agreed terms and subject to appropriate verification. "The Democratic Republic of Congo is pursuing the announced measures concerning the FDLR, including disarmament, cantonment, and repatriation, according to the agreed terms and appropriate verification. It intends to continue to deal with this issue in a responsible and transparent manner," Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay stated on Tuesday, September 13, 2026. However, for the permanent representative of the DRC to the UN, the efforts deployed by Kinshasa must be followed by concrete actions from Rwanda. He thus calls for a parallel and verifiable implementation of commitments, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773 and the relevant commitments of the Washington process. The Ambassador particularly insists on the need not to confuse the responsibilities of the two countries nor to use the commitments of one party to delay those of the other. "However, the progress made by the DRC must receive a concrete, parallel, and verifiable response from Rwanda, in accordance with Resolution 2773 and the relevant commitments of the Washington process. Reciprocity does not mean confusion of responsibilities nor the right to delay the execution of an international obligation. It is important to emphasize that the implementation of measures related to the FDLR cannot be a prerequisite for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces, the cessation of their support for the AFC/M23 or the respect for the territorial integrity of my country," stated Ambassador Zénon Mukongo Ngay, permanent representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the United Nations (UN). Beyond political and security commitments, the DRC wishes for the issue of the FDLR numbers to be treated based on reliable and verifiable data. To this end, the Ambassador requests the Security Council to rely on the Group of Experts of the Sanctions Committee to establish a credible baseline regarding the numbers of this armed movement. He also advocates for regular evaluation of the progress made. "Regarding the numbers of the FDLR, the Democratic Republic of Congo requests the Council, through the Group of Experts of the Sanctions Committee, a credible and verifiable baseline, and then a regular evaluation of the progress made," the Congolese diplomat added. Regarding the issue of the cessation of hostilities, the permanent representative of the DRC calls on the United Nations Security Council to ensure the effective implementation of ceasefire commitments and the rapid strengthening of on-the-ground verification mechanisms. He emphasizes the strengthening of the Joint Expanded Verification Mechanism (MCVE+) with the appropriate support of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), in strict respect for its mandate. "The Democratic Republic of Congo invites the Security Council to ensure the effective implementation of ceasefire commitments and the rapid strengthening of verification mechanisms, including MCVE+, with the appropriate support of MONUSCO, in accordance with its mandate. These mechanisms must have the necessary means to establish, independently, impartially, and credibly, the facts relating to troop movements, ceasefire violations, and cross-border support to armed groups," the Congolese diplomat supported. The security crisis in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a major concern for the Congolese authorities and the international community. Hence the promotion and implementation of the Washington processes, between Kinshasa and Kigali, under the auspices of the United States of America, and of Doha between Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebellion which has become the Front for the Rebuilding of the Nation (FRN) with the accompaniment of the African Union and Rwandan support denounced by the Congolese authorities. The clashes involving the AFC/M23, now designated as the FRN in the text, under the authority of Joseph Kabila, in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, the tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali as well as the humanitarian consequences of the conflict continue to test the diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the Great Lakes region. Faced with the persistence of the gap between diplomatic advances and the reality on the ground, voices are rising to call on the different parties to respect the commitments made within the framework of these various initiatives. Clément MUAMBA