The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), has said that in order to maintain stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mineral deals involving the rebels must be halted.

The call was made yesterday during an ICGLR retreat in Rubavu, Northern Province.

Various rebel groups are based in the jungles of the DRC.

ICGLR comprises of 11 member states that signed a pact on security, stability and development to ensure sustainable peace and reconstruction of the region.

"There are many negative forces in the DRC, who are involved in illegal mining of the resources to get armed and cause insecurity in the region,” said Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, the Executive Secretary of ICGLR.

DRC is home to several militias, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and many Congolese groups..

"We have a common understanding within the member states, and all we should emphasise is implementing what the pact stresses,” stressed. Mulamula.

She also explained that ICGLR has instituted a committee to monitor the mine fields in the DRC to ensure it is rebel free.

Mulamula urged the region was to act fast to counter emerging issues other than wait until a crisis breaks out.

The Executive Secretary of Rwanda Governance Advisory Council, Prof Anastase Shyaka, pointed out that there should be regional coherence and commitment to flush out negative elements plundering resources and causing regional insecurity.

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