The Summit of the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region started Saturday, November 15th, 2025 in Kinshasa and brings together state parties. We observed the absence of the Delegation from Rwanda which is currently military involved in war in Eastern DRC, we also observed the absence of the Civil Society.

Here is our statement

PRESS RELEASE No. 13/SOCICO/DRC/2025

ICGLR SUMMIT IN KINSHASA

On the occasion of the Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), which opens this Saturday, November 15, 2025 in Kinshasa, we welcome the delegations and recall the importance of this regional framework dedicated to peace and security. However, despite its mandate, the ICGLR is still struggling to bring concrete results to the populations, particularly those in eastern DRC who continue to suffer from armed violence.

We encourage leaders to prioritize dialogue, diplomatic mechanisms and durable solutions, while rejecting any use of force. The Kinshasa Summit should also strengthen the efforts undertaken within the Doha and Washington frameworks with a view to stabilizing the Great Lakes region in the long term.

Since its creation, the ICGLR has failed to establish a real peaceful dynamic between the DRC and Rwanda. The repetition of summits and resolutions that have not been implemented raises legitimate questions among the population. The absence of Rwanda, a central actor in the crisis, highlights the current limitations of the ICGLR and the persistent challenges in promoting nonviolent avenues of conflict resolution.

We call on the Summit to take seriously the problem of refugees in the sub-region, who are often instrumentalized in conflicts, particularly in the eastern DRC. We also encourage the promotion of internal dialogues, particularly in Rwanda, to enable the safe return of thousands of Rwandans living in exile. We recommend that Member States organize a Regional Summit devoted exclusively to the protection of refugees.

Finally, we call on the authorities to consider the recent signing of the Doha agreements. Their implementation remains unclear and requires more transparency, safeguards and monitoring mechanisms to prevent them from being added to the long list of unimplemented commitments in the region.

Done in Kinshasa, 15 November 2025

For the National Coordination of SOCICO The National President

Pontian NYEMBO