What You Need to Know
Zambia is set to host a three-day meeting of defense ministers from the Great Lakes region, starting Thursday, to discuss escalating security concerns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The meeting, requested by the Conference of Great Lakes Countries, will involve defense ministers and chiefs of staff from 12 member states, including Angola, Burundi, and Rwanda.
Africa. Zambia has announced that it will host a meeting on Thursday for the defense ministers of the Great Lakes region to discuss the escalating security deterioration in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The Ministry of Defense stated in a release on Saturday that the three-day meeting in Livingstone is being held at the request of the Conference of Great Lakes Countries.
Zambian Defense Minister Ambrose Lufuma is expected to chair the meeting, which will include defense ministers and chiefs of staff from the 12 member states of the conference: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
The eastern region of Congo has experienced recurring conflicts for decades, but the pace of violence has increased since the resurgence of the M23 movement in 2021. On Saturday, Uvira witnessed new clashes between M23 fighters and Congolese army forces, as the city is a strategically significant area rich in resources.
These recent developments follow days after Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington under the supervision of U.S. President Donald Trump. Under U.S. pressure, the M23 announced on December 17 its withdrawal from Uvira, demanding international mediation to ensure the city is not re-militarized.
The Great Lakes region has faced persistent conflicts for decades, particularly in eastern Congo, where violence has surged since the resurgence of the M23 movement in 2021. Recent clashes in the strategic resource-rich city of Uvira highlight the ongoing instability. The situation has drawn international attention, especially following a peace agreement between Congo and Rwanda, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at mitigating the conflict and ensuring regional security.
