In a joint statement published on 17 August 2026, the International Contact Group (ICG) for the Great Lakes region took note of the Democratic Republic of the Congo government's 28 July announcement that a faction of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda-FOCA (FDLR) had formally accepted and signed a protocol on disarmament, demobilization and cantonment. The statement was issued by the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States, with France chairing the group.

The ICG urged the Congolese authorities to develop an operational plan and a realistic timeline for effective FDLR neutralization, in line with obligations under the Washington Agreements, the October 31, 2024 disengagement of forces and lifting of defensive measures of Rwanda (CONOPS), and the June 27, 2025 Washington agreement. It asked the government to clarify mechanisms for combating impunity set out in the protocol and to work with MONUSCO as a key implementation partner. The group said any colocation or operational collaboration with FDLR elements would be fundamentally at odds with the Washington Accords commitments.

The ICG said it was ready to welcome concrete steps by the DRC or Rwanda under the peace process, and urged parties to the Washington Accords and Doha Framework, and mediation efforts including the African Union's, to continue implementing commitments. It reminded parties of obligations to protect civilians, comply with Security Council resolutions 2773 and 2808, respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and de-escalate immediately. It recognized a DRC–AFC/M23 prisoner exchange agreement as a confidence-building measure and commended a recent transfer facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross of individuals released by Congolese authorities to AFC/M23. It called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and guarantee full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.