adminNAIROBI — African leaders from the Great Lakes Region yesterday reaffirmed commitment to implement comprehensive treaties that guarantee durable peace, stability and economic development. Speaking at an extra-ordinary summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the leaders pledged to revitalise the search for peace, security and sustainable development in the great lakes region.
“We must address the root causes of conflicts in the Great Lakes Region and chart a new beginning that guarantees peace, stability and prosperity. The search for durable peace in our region is a collective responsibility of everyone,” said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Museveni is the current chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), a regional body that promotes conflicts resolution, integration, trade and economic development. The sixth International Conference of Great Lakes Region Heads of State summit in Nairobi was attended by Kenyan, Ugandan and Central African presidents while other member countries sent high ranking officials.
Head of States reviewed progress on the implementation of peace accords signed in the past to end hostilities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic as well as Republics of Sudan and South Sudan.
In his address, Museveni regretted that recurrent conflicts engulfing the Great Lakes region are a drawback to socio-economic progress.
He singled out poor leadership, weak institutions, poverty and competition for natural resources as leading causes of turmoil in the eastern parts of DRC.
The summit has been discussing challenges faced in implementing the UN and African Union framework agreement on peace, security and co-operation for DR Congo and the region.
The meeting, which is focusing on the raging fighting in DRC since Feb. 14, is attended by 11 countries which signed the Addis Ababa accord of February, and also comes after the meeting on the DRC at the Security Council last week.
The framework signed early this year in the presence of UN chief Ban Ki-moon requires DRC to deepen security sector reform, particularly with respect to the army and police; to consolidate State authority, particularly in eastern parts of the country, including preventing armed groups from destabilising its neighbours.
The summit also comes after the Security Council restated its commitment to the UN-brokered peace accord for Africa’s strife-torn Great Lakes region and demanded an immediate end to hostilities in DRC, where fresh clashes between armed rebels and government troops have sent thousands of civilians fleeing for safety.
Among the issues being discussed are the emerging tensions between Sudan and Uganda which has seen Khartoum file a complaint with the African Union and the Great Lakes secretariat over Uganda’ s alleged support for rebel insurgencies against Sudan.
“When tensions erupt between states, the real added and undeniable value of ICGLR is to be able to provide space for dialogue and discussion, to always safeguard fundamental values of dignity, because we are the same, we are always together,” said Prof. Ntumba Luaba, the ICGLR executive secretary.
The summit was unanimous that it’s the role of the current generation of leaders to turn things around and give hope to the aspirations of people in the region to live in peace, security and prosperity.
Uganda has been facilitating dialogue between the DRC government and rebel groups to end hostilities.
“The search for durable peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo has not stalled since the signing of Kampala accords by the government and rebel movements,” Museveni said.
He emphasized that infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, railway and electricity will accelerate DRC’s reconstruction.
The President of Central African Republic, Michel Djotodia, challenged countries in the region to strengthen institutions of governance to deter political crises.
“We must ask why this region is embroiled in conflicts yet peace agreements have been signed. Broadbased interventions that are home-grown are critical to promote good governance in our countries,” Djotodia told delegates.
Luaba challenged heads of state to honour their pledge to combat armed groups and end illegal exploitation of natural resources.
“There must be a zero tolerance to armed militia as we endeavour to have a great lakes region that is pacified and stable. Likewise, leaders must end the illegal exploitation of natural resources, child soldiers and sexual violence,” said Luaba. — Xinhua.
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