News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo
The Great Lakes Region is one of Africa’s richest region in terms of natural and human resources. However, it remains largely impoverished and its political, social and economic development has been hindered by conflict and absence of the rule of law.
It was in response to the regional conflicts that countries in the region, under the auspices of the United Nations and then Organization of African Unity decided to form the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region {ICGLR} .
Last week, the regional leaders signed a deal aimed at bringing peace and stability to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with plans to reinforce a UN-led mission to combat rebels activities in the region after years of unrest.
Eleven countries in the Great Lakes region – including rebel groups – signed on to the accord at a ceremony in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa in the presence of the UN Secretary General Psan Ki-Moon
The entire region is hoping that this time the accord such an accord will hold its waters, after many similar agreement brokered before collapsed even before the ink dried up. D. R. Congo has remained unstable nation in Africa ever since it attained its political independence from its former colonial masters the Belgium in June 1960.
On December 15th, 2010, Heads of State and governments of Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region {ICGLR} gather in the Zambian capital, Lusaka
The summit passed far-reaching 19 resolutions dabbed The Lusaka Declaration. However, these resolutions which formed the part of the Lusaka Declaration have remained ineffective and no signs of implementation Ha been put to practical work.
LEO OIDERA OMOLO, A veteran Kenyan journalist who attended the Lusaka summit in this two parts analytical article is examining what has since become of the Lusaka Declaration.
The main theme at the Lusaka Summit was “The Problem of illegal |Exploitation of the region’s natural resources.”
The problem of illegal exploitation of natural resources spans the mining sector and trade in valuable minerals of the region which perniciously deprives the region of vital resources of revenue so much required by social and economic development. These resources can create greater prosperity for the member countries, but ii used poorly, the wealth will cause economic instability, conflict and environmental degradation.
It was with these special challenges sand special opportunities in the mind of the leaders of the Great Lakes Region that they resolved at the Lusaka Summit to mobilize existing technical expertise, human resources and their political goodwill under the auspices of the ICGLR to fight against illegal exploitation of natural resources being one of the ways of transforming the region into a space of peace and stability and socio-economic development.
In attendance at the Lusaka Summit were President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos {Angola} Denis Sassou Nguesso {he Republic of Congo Brazzaville}.Pierre Nkrunzinza{Burundi}.Joseph Kabila Kabange {DR Congo} Jakaya Mrisho Kikweteb {anzania}, Rupiah B Banda {Zambia} oweri Kaguta Museveni {Uganda}, (mar Hassan Ahmed Bashir {Sudan} Mwai Kibaki {Kenya}, Francois Bozize {Central African Republic}.
The 19 resolutions were as follows: We, Heads of State and Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region [ICGLR} who gathered in Lusaka, are concerned about the persistent illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes Region and its linkage to the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, financing of armed groups and perpetuation of crimes against humanity.
We, are aware of the need to streamline the activities of local, regional and multinational actors involved in the exploitation of natural resources.
We, are cognizant of the commitment, mutual trust and cooperation in the implementation of the Pact on Security, stability and development of the Great Lakes Region.
We are, recalling the decision of the Mini-Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 1 February 2010, in which the ICGLR Secretariat and the Democratic of the Congo [DRC}government are urged to organize a Special Summit to address the issues related to illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes Region;
We, are deeply concerned about the negative impact of the illegal exploitation of natural resources which deprives states of resources needed to fight poverty and aggravates environmental degradation.
We are fully aware of the economic conflicts and persistent insecurity caused by armed groups and the Great Lakes Region financed through the illegal exploitation of natural resources and trade in minerals, in particular gold, Colombo-Tentalite, Woliranite and Cassiterite and concerned about the negative impact these armed groups have had on the population in the region including crimes against humanity, and massive violation of human rights such as sexual and gender based violence.
Please watch for the second instalment.
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