African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) sign Memorandum of Understanding
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 27, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) was signed on Monmday 25 October, 2010 by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr Jean Ping and the Executive Secretary of ICGLR, H.E Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The MOU defines the modalities of cooperation between the two bodies in areas of mutual support for peace and stability in the Great Lakes Region. The ICGLR is an intergovernmental organization formed in 2006, with headquarters in Bujumbura, Burundi. It covers the entire territory of the 11 Member States namely: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Speaking on the occasion of the signing of the MOU, the Chairperson observed that the MOU is a concrete example that “we can do things together”. He commended the work of the ICGLR Secretariat and expressed optimism at the prospects for peace in the region after years of instability. He recalled the negative impact of the wars in DRC and genocide in Rwanda, which had implications for the whole continent. He noted that currently DRC and all her neighbors have good relations.
On her part, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula thanked Dr Jean Ping for the invitation and for finding time for the noble cause. She recalled that the ICGLR was a creation of the UN and AU, tracing it as far back as 2004 when the first conference on the Great Lakes Region was held in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. That Conference acknowledged that regional problems needed homegrown regional solutions and the leaders, of the region, committed themselves to transforming the Great Lakes Region into a zone of peace, stability and development.
According to the MOU, the two Parties (ICGLR and AUC) will reinforce the capacity of the Great Lakes Region to anticipate, prevent, manage and resolve conflicts; support and encourage initiatives aimed at transforming the Great Lakes Region into areas of shared growth and development mainly in areas of infrastructure development, micro finance support, water and food security. In addition, they will ensure the coordination and follow-up of actions related to the promotion of measures intended to end exploitation and the use of illegal or illicit exploitation of natural resources, the proliferation and trafficking of illegal small arms and light weapons, as well as trans-national crimes. Furthermore, they committed themselves to promote and encourage democratic principles and good governance, particularly the promotion of local governance and the creation of opportunities for the civil society, the youth, women and other interested groups to participate in decision-making. They also agreed to promote and ensure effective humanitarian action, including through the implementation of measures aimed at preventing and fighting sexual violence against women and children; the identification and provision of assistance to internally displaced persons and refugees, and the protection of property rights of returnees in collaboration with interested partners. The two parties also agreed to promote measures aimed at improving the protection of human rights, prevention of crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and fighting impunity; the environment, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis control, the mainstreaming of issues related to gender, the youth, women and socio-economic development.
SOURCE
African Union Commission (AUC)
