Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi has outlined key priorities for the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) for 2026–2027, placing the fight against illegal exploitation of natural resources, institutional reforms and regional security at the centre of the organisation’s agenda.
Tshisekedi discussed the priorities on Tuesday, November 3, during a meeting with ICGLR Executive Secretary Dr Mubita Luwabelwa at the Cité de l’Union Africaine in Kinshasa, according to a statement from the Congolese presidency.
Luwabelwa visited the Congolese leader to obtain guidance on the organization’s priority areas for the coming period. The discussions covered efforts to address the illegal exploitation of natural resources, institutional reforms, cooperation among member states, and issues relating to peace and security.
Speaking after the meeting, Luwabelwa said the delegation had come to receive instructions from the organisation’s incumbent president on the various priority matters. He also announced that preparations were underway for the next meeting of the ICGLR Troika, assuring that the Secretariat was working to ensure the meeting’s success.
Tshisekedi has served as the ICGLR’s incumbent president since November 2025, following the transfer of the organization’s chairmanship from Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo at its ninth Ordinary Summit in Kinshasa. His term is expected to run until 2027.
The priorities discussed carry particular significance for a region where armed conflicts, cross-border tensions and competition over natural resources have remained major challenges. The illegal exploitation and trade of minerals have long been concerns in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where armed groups and illicit economic networks have been linked to the conflict.
The issue also extends beyond the DRC. The Great Lakes region connects countries through shared borders, trade routes, natural resources and security concerns, making cooperation between governments important in addressing activities that cross national boundaries.
The ICGLR was established to promote peace, security, stability and development among countries in the Great Lakes region. Its work includes cooperation on conflict prevention, responsible management of natural resources, regional integration and the protection of communities affected by insecurity.
The organization’s Troika brings together its current chair, immediate former chair and incoming chair. It assists the incumbent president in carrying out the mandate and provides a mechanism for consultations on regional matters outside ordinary formal meetings.
The planned Troika meeting is therefore expected to provide another opportunity for consultations on the organization’s priorities and the coordination of its activities.
While the latest meeting did not announce a new regional agreement or specific enforcement measures, it highlighted the issues the Congolese presidency wants the organization to address during the remainder of its current leadership period.
The challenge will be translating those priorities into coordinated action among member states, particularly on illegal resource exploitation and the security problems that continue to affect communities across the Great Lakes region.
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