The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) held the 31st meeting of the Regional Committee against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources on 7 and 8 November 2025 in Kinshasa. The meeting was convened in accordance with Article 31 of the Protocol against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources, which provides for regular monitoring of the implementation of the Protocol.

The two-day meeting brought together representatives of Member States and partners to review the implementation of the six tools of the Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR) and the progress of the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM).

Opening the meeting on behalf of the DRC Minister of Mines, Mr. Jacques Ramazani Lutuba, Secretary General for Mines in the DRC, commended the Committee’s continued efforts, reaffirming his government’s support for regional cooperation. ” The fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources is essential to ensure peace, stability, and shared prosperity in our region,” he said.

Among the major items on the agenda was the consideration of the draft revised Regional Guidelines on the Formalization of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Sector, submitted for approval by the Regional Committee. The adoption of these Guidelines marks an important milestone in the ICGLR’s efforts to promote responsible, inclusive, and sustainable mining in the Great Lakes region. By simplifying licensing procedures, harmonizing tax regimes, and facilitating access to finance and markets, the guidelines aim to transform informal artisanal mining into a legitimate, sustainable, and income-generating activity for local development, poverty reduction, and peacebuilding in mining areas.

For the ICGLR Regional Committee, the adoption of these guidelines reinforces its leadership role in promoting responsible governance of natural resources and regional economic integration. It consolidates the ICGLR’s position on the international stage as a regional organization committed to promoting responsible supply chains, conflict-free minerals, and inclusive growth, in line with the global frameworks on sustainability, transparency, and energy transition. These Guidelines thus constitute both a political tool for Member States and a diplomatic lever for the ICGLR, strengthening its credibility and partnerships with international actors such as the African Union, the European Union, and the United Nations.

In conclusion, the 31st meeting of the ICGLR Regional Committee on the Fight against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources also testifies to the continued commitment of the 12 ICGLR Member States to make the responsible management of natural resources a pillar of peace, security, and shared development in the Great Lakes region.