Great Lakes Region: Strengthening Regional Coordination for Sustainable Peace

A high-level strategic retreat was held in Uganda under the auspices of the United Nations, marking an important step in the operationalization of the Contact and Coordination Group (GCC/CCG) for regional peace.

Organized by the Office of the UN Special Representative for the Great Lakes region in partnership with the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the retreat brought together experts from the operational cell of the GCC.

Discussions focused on regional security dynamics, including the persistent threat of national and foreign armed groups, and prospects for disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, and reintegration (DDRR). Comparative experiences from countries such as Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nigeria enriched the debates.

The retreat identified operational challenges in the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, and South Kivu. It resulted in a regional roadmap prioritizing joint verification missions and strengthened communication strategies through community radio stations.

Professor Jean de Dieu Désiré NTANGA NTITA, National Coordinator of the P-DDRCS and head of the Congolese delegation, reaffirmed "the centrality of national leadership and ownership of stabilization processes" and "the importance of anchoring diplomatic initiatives within communities to ensure their legitimacy and long-term sustainability."