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The post Newsletter – December 2025 appeared first on ICGLR - International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

The ICGLR vehemently condemns the violence inflicted upon innocent civilians. We urge all involved parties to take immediate steps towards de-escalation and to honour their responsibilities in line with international humanitarian law. It is essential to … (Download full statement)

The post PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ESCALATION IN SOUTH KIVU IN THE EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC) appeared first on ICGLR - International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

This meeting comes on the eve of the 9th Summit of Heads of State and Government, which will mark the transition of the presidency from the Republic of Angola to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This change implies the handover of the presidency at all structural levels of the ICGLR. Indeed, the Pact, a document that governs legal relations between ratifying States, established the Regional Follow-up Mechanism to ensure the implementation of the Pact, through various bodies: the Summit of Heads of State and Government, the RIMC, the Secretariat of the Conference, the National Coordination Mechanisms and other thematic structures or forums.

Today, the President of the RIMC, the Minister of External Relations of Angola, Amb. Tete Antonio handed over the baton to the Minister of Regional Integration of the DRC, H.E. Floribert Anzuluni

The holding of this 9^th Interministerial Meeting takes place in a regional context marked by persistent security and humanitarian challenges. H.E. Floribert Anzuluni, DRC Minister of Regional Integration, spoke about the usefulness of the ICGLR in such a context: “The Pact for Peace, Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region responds to the structural problems at the root of armed violence that jeopardize development in the region.” A declaration that reaffirms the raison d’être of the ICGLR, almost twenty years after its creation: to make the Pact a living instrument at the service of a peaceful and prosperous region.

The Heads of State and Government will meet in Kinshasa in two days to perpetuate the legacy of the founding fathers of the Pact. Twenty years after its signing, the ICGLR is resolutely looking ahead to the next twenty years, with the same ambition: to build a Great Lakes Region that is sustainably pacified and prosperous.

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The session was officially opened by H.E. Ms. Judith Tuluka Suminwa, Prime Minister of the DRC and Guest of Honour, who reaffirmed her country’s commitment to regional peace and stability. The ICGLR Secretariat, mandated to coordinate the implementation of the Pact on Security, Stability, and Development in the Great Lakes Region, was represented by its Executive Secretary, Ambassador João Samuel Caholo. The meeting, held in preparation for the upcoming ICGLR Summit of Heads of State and Government, was chaired by the Republic of Angola, the outgoing Chair of the ICGLR Committee of Ministers of Defence, while the Democratic Republic of Congo participated as the incoming Chair.

The meeting offered a key platform for Defence Ministers of the Great Lakes Region to reaffirm their commitment to peace and stability amid ongoing security challenges. They highlighted the need for stronger regional cooperation, joint action, and information sharing to address cross-border threats and implement ICGLR decisions effectively.

Ministers also emphasized the importance of ICGLR mechanisms on non-aggression and mutual defence for conflict prevention as provided under the Protocol on Non‑Aggression and Mutual Defence in the Great Lakes Region, which is one of the 10 legally binding protocols of the Pact. The meeting concluded with a renewed resolve to strengthen coordinated responses to emerging threats and advance a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Great Lakes Region — a message to inform the upcoming ICGLR Summit of Heads of State and Government. The meeting concluded with a concise, unified account of the security situation in the Great Lakes region and adopted clear, practical recommendations on how we can collectively prevent further escalation and manage the conflicts in the Great Lakes region, especially in the DRC and Sudan.

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The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) held two key meetings in Kinshasa to advance the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and reaffirm regional commitment to gender equality.

The Ordinary Meeting of ICGLR Gender Focal Points, held on 31 October 2025, brought together national representatives, the ICGLR Regional Women Forum (RWF), and partners to assess progress on WPS implementation across Member States. Countries reported notable achievements, including the adoption of National Action Plans aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, expanded women’s representation in governance, and strengthened legal frameworks against gender-based violence. However, challenges remain, such as limited funding, sociocultural barriers, and the impact of ongoing conflicts on women’s participation.

The meeting adopted a key regional instrument — the 2^nd Generation Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2026–2030) and took note of progress on the ICGLR Regional Gender Barometer II, which together provide a roadmap and monitoring framework for gender equality efforts in the region. Delegates also discussed the revitalisation of the Regional Women’s Forum Secretariat and adopted recommendations for its reactivation.

On 1 November 2025, Ministers in Charge of Gender convened under the chairmanship of H.E. Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, Minister of Social Action, Family and Gender Promotion of Angola. The session was officially opened by H.E. Micheline Ombae Kalama, DRC Minister of Gender, Family, and Child, and attended by high-level officials, including H.E. Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the DRC, who represented the Prime Minister.

Both meetings coincided with the 25^th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, marking a renewed regional commitment to transforming women’s leadership in peacebuilding and governance.

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The ICGLR Audit Committee held its 27th Meeting in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reaffirming its commitment to strengthening responsible sourcing and promoting transparency in the regional mineral trade. During this session, the Committee reviewed reports of Third-Party Audits conducted in the DRC and discussed a proposed webinar programme aimed at strengthening the technical skills and capacities of ICGLR-accredited Third-Party Auditors.

In her welcoming remarks, Mrs. Pambi Mudila Marie, ICGLR National Coordinator for the DRC, warmly welcomed Committee members to Kinshasa and expressed appreciation for their active participation.

I hope that the Committee’s deliberations will help pave the way toward the responsible and sustainable exploitation of our region’s mineral resources, said Mrs. Pambi Mudila Marie, ICGLR National Coordinator for the DRC.

Mr. Philip Kiriu, Chair of the ICGLR Audit Committee, expressed gratitude to the Government of the DRC and the National Coordination Mechanism for graciously hosting the technical meeting and for the warm hospitality extended to all participants. He reiterated that the Committee serves as the technical backbone of the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) — the key instrument for implementing the region’s shared commitment to responsible and transparent mineral trade across the Great Lakes Region.

Delivering his official remarks, Mr. Jacques Ramazani Lutuba, Secretary General at the Ministry of Mines and Guest of Honour, commended the Committee’s presence and participation. He underscored that the meeting reflected the collective commitment and vitality of the regional platform in promoting transparent and ethical mineral governance, in line with the objectives of the ICGLR Pact and other regional instruments designed to combat the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes Region.

Ambassador Yasir Ibrahim Ali Mohammed, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ICGLR, expressed appreciation to the Government of the DRC for hosting the 27th Meeting of the Audit Committee. He also extended thanks to ICGLR partners, including GIZ and Impact, for their continued collaboration and dedication to implementing the Regional Certification Mechanism — a cornerstone of the ICGLR’s Regional Initiative to combat the illegal exploitation of natural resources and promote sustainable development across the region.

The Audit Committee ensures that Third-Party Audits (TPAs) of exporters of 3TG minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold) are conducted in full compliance with RCM standards. These audits constitute a fundamental element in operationalizing the RCM and advancing the region’s shared goals of ethical and transparent mineral governance.

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The post Press Release by the ICGLR Secretariat on the Escalation of the Situation in El Fasher, Sudan appeared first on ICGLR - International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

On this International Peace Day, the Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is pleased to announce the ICGLR Journalist Award on Peace and Security, an initiative to recognize and encourage media professionals who bring to light the voices of survivors, expose the realities of conflict, and … (Read more)

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