Meeting of Ministers of Defence of the ICGLR Member States, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, 11th October, 2011: Ministers of Defence of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region ICGLR met in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 11th October, 2017 under the chairmainship of H.E. Charles Richard Mondjo, the Minister of Defence on security situation in the Great Lakes Region.

The meeting of the Committee of Ministers precedes the Summit of the ICGLR Heads of States and Government to take place on 19th October, themed “Fast-Tracking the implementation of the Pact to Ensure Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region”.

In his opening statement, the Guest of Honour H.E Gilbert Ondongo, Minister os State for Economy, Industry and Public Expenditure, representing the Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo, called on Committee of Ministers of Defence to collectivily address the security challenges disrupting the development of the ICGLR Member States and recommended the strengthening of the EJVM, JIFC, and JFM, as critical early warning and surveillance mechanisms. He congratulated the Republic of Angola for her successful tenure of chairing the ICGLR, and pledged the keen commitment of the Republic of Congo to steer the ICGLR in the next two years in its resolve to sustain regional security, stability and development.

In his remarks, Gen. Salviano De Jesus Cerqueira, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Angola, expressed his gratitude to the ICGLR Member States who supported Angola during her tenure as Chair of the ICGLR. He encouraged the meeting to continue working towards finding lasting solutions to the security challenges facing Burundi, CAR, South Sudan, and DRC.

In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Charles Richard Mondjo, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Congo, welcomed all delegations to the peaceful and beautiful city of Brazzaville. He congratulated H.E. Joao Goncalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola and former Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of Defence for a remarkably successful tenure of service. He recounted the security challenges facing the region, including presence of negative forces in some Member States, and stressed the importance of strengthening the Mechanisms established to counter these nefarious activities.

On his part Ambassador Zachary Muburi-Muita, the ICGLR Executive Secretary thanked H.E. Denis Sassou Nguesso, the President of the Republic of Congo for his steadfast commitment to the ICGLR. He highlighted the security challenges facing the region, including the acts of terrorism, negative forces, insecurity and noted the on-going political and security challenges in some Member States, particularly in the eastern DRC, CAR, South Sudan, Burundi, and Sudan.

On 13th to 14th October, the ICGLR National Coordinators will meet to receive and discuss ICGLR Secretariat activities over the last one year; Status report of Member States contributions and presentation of the Study on the Status of Implementation of the Pact during the first ten years from 2006 to 2016 of the ICGLR existence. The National Coordinators meeting precedes the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee (RIMC) meeting comprising Ministers of Foreign Affairs who will meet on 15th to 16th October to prepare the agenda for the Summit.

During the Summit, the Republic of Congo will take over the ICGLR Chairmanship from the Republic of Angola. The ICGLR Troika is also expected to be reactivated.

To read more, please visit the ICGLR Website

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