1. CONTEXT
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is an intergovernmental organisation established under the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region, signed by Member States in 2006. The ICGLR provides a regional framework for conflict prevention, management and resolution, while promoting peace, security, stability, sustainable development and peaceful coexistence among its Member States. The Secretariat, based in Bujumbura, Burundi, implements the decisions of the Summit of Heads of State and Government and the Council of Ministers.
The Great Lakes Region of Africa has endured nearly four decades of armed conflict, largely driven by armed groups that partly fund their operations through the illicit exploitation and trade of mineral resources. This is especially the case in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where more than 100 armed groups are currently active. Some of them are engaged in the illicit exploitation and smuggling of so-called conflict minerals, tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (3TG). The conflict undermines socio-economic development, deepens ethnic grievances and causes humanitarian crises, making it hard to break the cycle of violence.
Illicit exploitation and smuggling of minerals have had far-reaching political, economic, and social consequences for the region. Politically, illegal mineral trade has undermined governance in conflict-affected countries by fostering corruption, illicit financial flows, organised transnational criminal networks and weakening state institutions through the establishment of parallel governments. It has financed armed groups, leading to insecurity and weakening public trust in government structures. Economically, the smuggling of minerals has deprived the government of essential revenue from taxes and royalties, limiting funds for development projects. It has discouraged legitimate investment and has perpetuated informal employment where workers face exploitation and unsafe conditions. Socially, illicit mineral exploitation has contributed to human rights abuses, including child and forced labour, community displacement, and widespread poverty. The resulting environmental degradation affects livelihoods, particularly in mining regions, while unequal wealth distribution has intensified social inequality.
To tackle these complex and intersectional challenges, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) was established in 2006 by the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region. It is composed
of 12 Member States and serves as a regional framework for conflict prevention, management, and resolution, alongside promoting sustainable development and …(Click here for more details)
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