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Featured Image: Gacaca – Rwanda’s Traditional Court for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation
By Christophe Uwizeyimana, Chief Editor.
The Great Lakes Region from Rwanda and Burundi’s green hills to the vast forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is among Africa’s most resource-rich yet conflict-prone zones. Despite decades of peacebuilding, violence and political instability persist. Still, a powerful story of resilience and regional cooperation is unfolding.
“Peace in the Great Lakes will not come from treaties alone it will come from communities choosing coexistence over conflict,” says Ambassador João Caholo, Executive Secretary of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
Roots of Conflict
Colonial Legacies and Historical Divides
The 1884–1885 Berlin Conference fractured ethnic and cultural ties, creating artificial borders that deepened divisions. In Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC, colonial policies reinforced ethnic hierarchies that later fueled genocide against Tutsi 1994 and instability in the region. “The colonial legacy of exclusion remains the silent architect of many African conflicts,” notes Dr. Jean-Bosco Habyarimana, a peace researcher in Kigali.
Resource Wealth and Endless Wars
Eastern DRC’s gold and coltan riches have long funded war. The UN Group of Experts (2024) reports over 130 armed groups profiting from illegal mining. The ICGLR’s Regional Initiative against Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources helps trace conflict minerals, but weak enforcement persists. “Until mineral wealth benefits the people instead of warlords, peace will remain fragile,” warns Dr. Comfort Ero, President of the International Crisis Group.
Weak Governance and Political Instability
Across the region, corruption and weak institutions breed mistrust. South Sudan’s civil war and Regional political unrest highlight how fragile governance undermines peace. “Democracy without accountability is a breeding ground for disillusionment,” says Kenyan scholar Professor Makau Mutua.
Climate Stress and Resource Scarcity
Environmental change now fuels conflict. Floods and droughts destroy livelihoods, displacing millions. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (2024) records over 10 million Africans displaced by climate disasters in 2023. Yet regional cooperation like Rwanda’s Green Growth Strategy offers hope. “Climate resilience is peace resilience,” says Dr. Amani Abedi from the University of Dar es Salaam.
Intercommunity Tensions and Reconciliation
Ethnic mistrust remains volatile, especially in eastern DRC and parts of Sudan. But peacebuilding from below is gaining ground. For instance, In Burundi, women’s cooperatives promote dialogue, while in Rwanda, post-genocide peace clubs nurture unity. “When communities lead reconciliation, peace becomes sustainable,” says Speciose Mukandekezi, a Rwandan genocide survivor.
Pathways Toward Lasting Peace
- Strengthen Governance: Promote transparent leadership and accountable institutions.
- Empower Grassroots Voices: Women and youth must lead peace efforts through forums like the ICGLR Women and Youth networks.
- Promote Regional Cooperation: Strengthen the ICGLR Early Warning Centre in Bujumbura to prevent crises before they escalate.
- Transform Natural Wealth: Enforce the ICGLR mineral certification scheme and invest revenues in communities.
- Integrate Climate Action: Cross-border resource management, such as cooperation on Lake Kivu and the Nile Basin, can reduce tensions.
A Shared Vision for the Great Lakes
The Great Lakes can either remain trapped by its violent past or embrace a future of justice and cooperation. As Ambassador Caholo reminds us, “The strength of our region lies not in its resources, but in its people’s capacity to forgive, rebuild, and unite.”
Peace is not an abstract dream; it is a daily decision. From local peace committees in Burundi to youth digital campaigns in Rwanda and other ICGLR states, citizens are proving their will to rebuild trust. As Dr. Martin Kimani, Kenya’s UN envoy, said, “Our borders may have been drawn in the colonial past, but our destiny must be shaped by cooperation, not division.”
Photos:
Photo:Dr. Martin Kimani, Kenya’s UN envoy, calls for regional unity and cooperation beyond colonial-era borders.
Photo: Building sustainable peace in the Great Lakes will benefit the region and the world.
