Kinshasa, November 17th, 2025 (CPA) – The consolidation of peace and the strengthening of judicial cooperation in the Great Lakes region have been mentioned among the priorities of the new President of the ICGLR, at the opening, on Saturday in Kinshasa, of the 9th Summit of this regional organisation. ‘“Our mandate will therefore be one of results, based on five (5) priorities, namely the institutional reform of the ICGLR, the restoration and consolidation of peace, security and regional stability, the strengthening of judicial cooperation, the reinforcement of the fight against the exploitation of and illicit trade in natural resources through an effective mineral traceability programme, and regional economic integration”’, has declared Felix Tshisekedi, the new President of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Countries (ICGLR). In front of the Heads of State and Government, the Congolese President has pledged to apply ‘the 2006 Pact on Stability, Security and Development, the foundation of the ICGLR’. « The 2006 pact on stability, security and development remains the foundation of our community. It is time to speed up its full application, from the protocol on non-aggression and mutual defence to judicial cooperation, including the fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources and the implementation of the action programme for economic integration », he has indicated. ‘There will be no peace without justice, no stability without shared security, and no development without real integration’, has added President Tshisekedi.
According to Mr Tshisekedi, it is high time to act to make the Great Lakes region a genuine area of peace, security and development. « Time is pressing for us to act to make the Great Lakes region a genuine area of peace, security and development. Our Presidency will be uncompromising on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-aggression, refusal of any support for armed groups, and resolutely open to dialogue with a view to finding political and lasting solutions that include women, young people, local authorities and communities », he has said, before emphasising that this 9th Summit marks the renewal of commitments and the entry into an accelerated phase of implementation of the joint pact. « It will be impartial but demanding (…) We will choose everything at once, with method, courage and loyalty. May this 9th Summit mark the renewal of our commitments and the entry into a phase of accelerated implementation of the pact that binds us », has concluded the new President of the ICGLR. The Presidents of the member states of the ICGLR, including Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi, Denis Sasou Ngweso of the Republic of Congo and Faustin-Archange Touadera of Central Africa, have taken part in the meeting, held under the theme of ‘Consolidating peace and security in the Great Lakes region’. President Tshisekedi has succeeded his Angolan counterpart Joao Lourenço at the head of this regional organisation for a two-year term. ACP/