The just concluded summit of the Heads of State of member countries of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has opened a new chapter in regional politics.The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has not only wrecked havoc on its citizens, it has also turned out to be a major distabilising factor in the region. Therefore, the neighbours had to take a firm stand.For the first time, African countries – to be more specific, countries of the Great Lakes region – have set the pace, controlled the tempo and are on course to decide the outcome without any outside interference.The concerned countries understand the underlying reasons for the new conflict, much better than some so-called experts plucked from their university or NGO chairs, thousands of kilometers away from the conflict zone.What regional leaders now have to prove is that they mean what they say, a far cry from the numerous international conferences that simply end up with empty resolutions.That the participating countries have drawn a roadmap that puts homegrown solutions at the forefront, should serve as an example to other African regions embroiled in conflicts. This same remedy could be exported to West Africa where the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) has been riddled by inaction.Maybe it is time Africans listened to their inner voices in order to find solutions to their problems, otherwise they will start reeling over and the vultures will be circling over head.
