The International Contact Group for the Great Lakes (ICG), chaired by Germany, issued a statement on the Joint Declaration between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda signed in Washington on 4 December 2025 recognizing the Declaration of Principles, the Peace Agreement and the Regional Economic Integration Framework (Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity).

Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as members of the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes, welcome the signing in Washington DC on Thursday 4 December 2025 of the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity, including the Regional Economic Integration Framework, between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda.

We welcome the commitment by President Félix Tshisekedi and President Paul Kagame, witnessed and supported by Presidents and Vice-Presidents from Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Togo and Uganda and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to reinforce the 27 June 2025 Peace Agreement between DRC and Rwanda. We commend the two countries for their leadership, reiterating at the highest political level their will to work towards a peaceful resolution of the long-standing conflict in the Great Lakes region. We recognize the key role of the US in facilitating the process and congratulate all parties on this considerable achievement.

We express our deep appreciation and full support to the Government of Qatar in its ongoing mediation between the government of DRC and the M23 as well as to H.E. Faure Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of Togo, for his mediation efforts, as mandated by the African Union. We urge all parties to work towards an inclusive approach, including civil society and affected populations, as well as engaging with regional actors to securing support and safeguard sustainable peace.

The ICG reiterates the importance of the signatories to honour their obligations and shared responsibility to deliver swift implementation of the Washington Accords as well as the UN Security Council Resolution 2773 (2025) for the benefit of their people. This includes full respect for territorial integrity, a process of neutralization of the FDLR and the withdrawal of the Rwanda Defence Force. It is essential that territorial integrity is fully respected and that the Parties facilitate and support MONUSCO’s capacity to implement its full mandate.

We reiterate the importance of an immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties and all armed groups. The ICG calls on all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law, including allowing full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and resumption of humanitarian flights into Goma in the continuity of the Paris conference. Securing the dignified and safe return of those who have been displaced by conflict is of paramount importance.

The ICG emphasizes the crucial role of regional economic integration as a means to foster shared interests and build prosperity. The ICG remains committed to supporting the countries in the region in strengthening regional economic integration on the basis of ambitious, transformative initiatives that are mutually beneficial and contribute to durable peace.