Kinshasa: T©te Ant³nio, the Angolan foreign affairs minister, is chairing the 19th ordinary session of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) inter-ministerial committee in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meeting, which gathers ministers of foreign affairs, regional integration, and external relations from ICGLR member countries, was inaugurated by DRC Prime Minister and Head of Government Judith Tuluka Suminwa. Its primary focus is to analyze the current peace and security conditions in the region and explore avenues for enhanced multilateral cooperation.
According to Angola Press News Agency, participants are reviewing several critical reports, including the ICGLR Executive Secretary's report on the organization's accomplishments, ongoing challenges, and future prospects. Additional reports being assessed include those from the meeting of national coordinators and the security situation in the Great Lakes region, presented by the chair of the ICGLR Committee of Defense Ministers.
In his role as the outgoing Chair of the CIRGL Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee, Minister T©te Ant³nio acknowledged the persisting complex challenges in the Great Lakes Region, such as armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, and the struggle to consolidate lasting peace. He emphasized that the ICGLR's initiatives should concentrate on bolstering joint actions among member states, particularly in crisis mediation, addressing root causes of conflict, and promoting social inclusion and sustainable economic growth.
Minister Ant³nio also underscored Angola's proactive involvement in mediating crises in the eastern DRC, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and South Sudan, in collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations, and various regional and international partners. These efforts, as highlighted by the minister, aim to neutralize non-state armed groups, re-establish state authority in affected regions, and enhance cross-border cooperation among the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The minister cited several achievements, including the approval of the Joint Roadmap for Peace in the Central African Republic and the adoption of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS), which serves as a guide for implementing the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and the Force Disengagement Plan.
Furthermore, in the domain of natural resources and mining governance, Angola has played a pivotal role in fortifying the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) to ensure transparency and traceability within conflict mineral value chains. On matters of gender and social inclusion, Angola has actively contributed to the development of the second-generation Regional Action Plan for Women, Peace, and Security (2026-2030).
According to the Angolan minister, these advancements enhance the ICGLR's credibility and promote a unified vision of peace, stability, and sustainable development for the Great Lakes region.
