Establishment

Founded in 2000 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region was signed by 11 countries in Nairobi in 2006. South Sudan joined as the 12th Member State in 2012.

Membership (12 Member States)

Angola
Population: 39.0 million | Area: 1,246,700 km² | GDP: $92 billion | GDP per Capita: $2,360 | Life Expectancy: 62 years | Women in Parliament: 30% | Youth (15-24): 19% | Languages: Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo

Burundi
Population: 13.2 million | Area: 27,834 km² | GDP: $3.7 billion | GDP per Capita: $280 | Life Expectancy: 62 years | Women in Parliament: 38% | Youth (15-24): 19% | Languages: Kirundi, French, English (official)

Central African Republic
Population: 5.6 million | Area: 622,984 km² | GDP: $2.5 billion | GDP per Capita: $450 | Life Expectancy: 54 years | Women in Parliament: 13% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: French, Sango (official)

Congo (Republic)
Population: 6.2 million | Area: 342,000 km² | GDP: $13.7 billion | GDP per Capita: $2,210 | Life Expectancy: 65 years | Women in Parliament: 11% | Youth (15-24): 19% | Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kikongo

DRC
Population: 112.0 million | Area: 2,344,858 km² | GDP: $72.5 billion | GDP per Capita: $650 | Life Expectancy: 61 years | Women in Parliament: 10% | Youth (15-24): 19% | Languages: French (official), Lingala, Kiswahili, Kikongo, Tshiluba

Kenya
Population: 52.0 million | Area: 580,367 km² | GDP: $108 billion | GDP per Capita: $2,080 | Life Expectancy: 67 years | Women in Parliament: 26% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: Swahili, English (official)

Rwanda
Population: 14.1 million | Area: 26,338 km² | GDP: $14.1 billion | GDP per Capita: $1,000 | Life Expectancy: 69 years | Women in Parliament: 64% (highest globally) | Youth (15-24): 19% | Languages: Kinyarwanda, French, English (official)

South Sudan
Population: 11.4 million | Area: 644,329 km² | GDP: $11.0 billion | GDP per Capita: $965 | Life Expectancy: 58 years | Women in Parliament: 35% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: English (official), Arabic, Dinka, Nuer

Sudan
Population: 48.1 million | Area: 1,886,068 km² | GDP: $41.8 billion | GDP per Capita: $870 | Life Expectancy: 65 years | Women in Parliament: 31% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: Arabic, English (official)

Tanzania
Population: 67.5 million | Area: 947,403 km² | GDP: $80.5 billion | GDP per Capita: $1,192 | Life Expectancy: 67 years | Women in Parliament: 38% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: Swahili, English (official)

Uganda
Population: 49.3 million | Area: 241,038 km² | GDP: $51.6 billion | GDP per Capita: $1,050 | Life Expectancy: 64 years | Women in Parliament: 35% | Youth (15-24): 21% | Languages: English (official), Swahili, Luganda

Zambia
Population: 20.6 million | Area: 752,612 km² | GDP: $31.7 billion | GDP per Capita: $1,540 | Life Expectancy: 64 years | Women in Parliament: 18% | Youth (15-24): 20% | Languages: English (official), Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga

ICGLR Secretariat Headquarters :Bujumbura, Burundi

Decentralized Organs

• Levy Mwanawasa Regional Centre (LMRC) on Democracy and Good Governance, Human Rights and Civic Education - Lusaka, Zambia
• Regional Training Facility (RTF) on Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence in the Great Lakes Region- Kampala, Uganda
• Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) Goma, DRC
• Joint Intelligence Fusion Centre (JIFC)- Goma, DRC
• Joint Follow-up Mechanism on the ADF- Kasese, Uganda

Programmes of Action

• Peace and Security
• Democracy and Good Governance
• Gender, Women and Children
• Economic Development and Regional Integration
• Economic Development and Regional Integration
• Cross-cutting Issues

Regional Overview
Total Population : 439.0 million inhabitants

Total Area : 9,662,531 km²

Combined GDP : $523 billion

Average GDP per Capita : $1,190

Average Life Expectancy : 63 years

Regional Youth Population (15-24 years) : 20% (approximately 88 million)

Women in Parliament : 29%

Gender Distribution : Women Comprise approximatively 50.5% of the total population

Official Languages :English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic

Current Leadership
ICGLR Chairperson :H.E. João Manuel Lourenço Gonçalves (President of Angola)

RIMC Chairperson :Hon. Tete Antonio (Minister of External Relations of Angola)

Executive Secretary :Ambassador João Samuel Caholo

Data Sources :United Nations (Population Division, UNDP), World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Inter-Parliamentary Union, World Health Organisation

Disclaimer :All figures are estimates based on the latest available data (2023-2025) from international sources. Statistics are subject to periodic revisions. For official data, please consult national statistical offices.

Last Updated :October 2025