KINSHASA, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi on Saturday called for strengthened collective efforts to transform the Great Lakes region into a genuine zone of peace, security, and development, as he opened the ninth summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in the capital, Kinshasa.
Assuming the rotating ICGLR presidency for the next two years, Tshisekedi pledged to carry out his mandate "in a spirit of attentiveness, impartiality, and effectiveness," supported by fellow leaders and the Troika.
He said the region continues to grapple with well-known challenges, including persistent conflicts and acts of aggression, mass population displacement, sexual violence, economic fragility, inadequate cross-border infrastructure, and the illegal exploitation and trade of natural resources.
"These ills are not a fatality: they call for a more determined political will, renewed regional solidarity and truly shared responsibility," he said. "There will be no peace without justice, no stability without shared security, and no development without genuine integration."
He outlined five priorities for the DRC's mandate, namely institutional reform, consolidation of peace and security, strengthened judicial cooperation, intensified efforts to curb illegal resource exploitation through effective mineral traceability, and deeper regional economic integration.
He added that the DRC presidency will uphold key principles, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-aggression, and the rejection of support to armed groups, while keeping the door open to inclusive political dialogue involving women, youth, local authorities, and communities.
The ICGLR, an intergovernmental body of the countries in the African Great Lakes Region, was formally established in 2006 following regional initiatives launched in response to the political and security crises that erupted after the 1994 conflicts. Its mandate focuses on promoting peace, security, stability, and development across the region. ■