Washington (TDI): On Thursday, Rwanda and Congo held the first-ever meeting of the joint oversight committee in the United States – a move towards the implementation of the peace deal that was agreed upon last month, in Washington.Â
The US State Department said that the meeting included observers from the United States, Qatar, as well as from Togo, which served as the African Union facilitator, and the African Union Commission.
The Joint Oversight Committee serves as a platform for the implementation and dispute resolution of the peace agreement. The Committee is also responsible for receiving complaints regarding any violation of the agreement, taking necessary actions to address violations, and settling disputes.Â
It has been reported that the joint oversight committee meeting, due to meet within 45 days of the peace deal, was on schedule.
On Wednesday, Massad Boulos, who is serving as Trump’s senior Africa adviser, told the media that the deal was not off track, adding that a meeting related to the security mechanism was due to be announced in the coming days.
Read More:Â Rwanda, DR Congo Sign Peace Deal at US State Department
When asked by the media about lack of progress on operations against the FDLR and withdrawal of Rwandan soldiers, Boulos said: “There was no timeline for that… if you look at the chronology of what we’ve been able to do since April, it’s been extensive, and it’s been very much on point and very much in line with our aspirations. So it’s not off track in any way.”
The peace deal that was made in June between Rwanda and Congo, mediated by the US administration, aimed at ending the fighting that had killed thousands of people so far.
As per the deal, the two African states pledged to implement a 2024 deal that leads to the withdrawal of Rwanda troops from Congo within 90 days.
The deal also said that both states will form a joint security mechanism within a time period of 30 days and implement a plan that was agreed in 2024 to monitor the withdrawal of Rwanada’s soldiers.
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