It is with a sense of optimism and bated breath that citizens of the Great Lakes Region await the results of the numerous meetings taking place under the auspices of the ICGLR. Yesterday’s defence ministers meeting, which was preceded by that involving  defence and intelligence experts and another involving the chiefs of defence forces and intelligence from Burundi, Republic of Congo, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda on Wednesday, are all solid steps towards the path of peace.  We feel optimistic about these latest rounds of talks because they open direct lines of communication between all the major players in the region and allow mutual suspicions to be swept under the rug. These talks prove that Africans can solve their own issues without necessarily having to call for international assistance. We understand the underlying issues more than the so-called experts that are constantly being hoisted upon us and these meetings are an opportunity to show that.We continue to urge all the ICGLR members to continue having these meetings in good faith while reminding them that it is us, the people in the region, who will bear the brunt of any subsequent failure in these talks.