Kampala, 8 August 2012
Today in Kampala, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Heads of State Summit ended on a high note. The two day event was attended by President Paul Kagame, President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, President Pierre Nkurunziza, President Francois Bozize, President Sassou Nguesso and President Kabila. The summit was based on the principle that solutions to the crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must be conceived, owned and driven by the region that the heads of states agreed on regional subcommittee that will take the lead in implementing sustainable solutions to the conflict.
The subcommittee made up of the Ministers of Defence of the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Burundi, the Republic of Congo, DRC , the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania will start immediately and report in two weeks to the chair of the ICGLR, President Museveni.
The declaration signed by ICGLR heads of States, stipulates that the goal of the subcommittee will be to ensure that fighting in eastern DRC stops completely to allow for consolidation of peace, security and stability as well as provide details on operationalization of the neutral International Force.
As Minister Louise Mushikiwabo expressed, the Heads of State Summit was a clear example of “ a practical formula for a long-term solution for the region, by the region.”