ICGLR Summit to discuss regional security concerns

Heads of State from the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) will today convene in the Angolan capital Luanda for an extraordinary summit. The meeting, which Angola is hosting in its capacity as the current chair of the bloc, is expected look into improving the security situation in the region. According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Louise Mushikiwabo is representing Rwanda at the summit. Foreign Affairs Minister Mushikiwabo has been in Luanda since last week on Friday. “The Summit will discuss the security and humanitarian situation in the Great Lakes Region with special focus on Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of South Sudan and the growing threat of terrorism,” reads part of the statement from the body’s secretariat. Burundi, which hosts the bloc’s secretariat, has over the past few weeks been mired in political skirmishes that have led to the fleeing of over 100,000 people. Of these refugees, over 26,000 are in Rwanda. The skirmishes stem mainly from threats posed by a paramilitary youth organisation allied to the ruling party, which they say is out to defend the third term bid by President Pierre Nkurunziza, despite many contending that the bid is unconstitutional. The Summit was preceded by a meeting by ministers of defence and followed by one of foreign affairs ministers last week. The ICGLR’s member states include Angola, Burundi, Republic of Congo, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Angola has been at the helm of ICGLR beginning 2014 and is serving a two-year term.

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ICGLR Summit to discuss regional security concerns