Uganda Hosts PF-ICGLR Delegation to Promote Peace in the DRC

The PF-ICGLR delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti Butete, is in Uganda to assess peace in the DRC. Uganda’s Speaker Anita Among endorsed regional solutions and highlighted the criticality of peace for development. The findings will be discussed at the PF-ICGLR plenary in April, with a focus on local leadership for security.

A delegation from the Forum of Parliamentarians in the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (PF-ICGLR) is currently in Uganda to conduct a fact-finding mission focused on peace and security in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The delegation, led by Rt. Hon. Nelly Mutti Butete, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia and President of PF-ICGLR, is scheduled to meet with President Yoweri Museveni.

Upon welcoming the delegation, Speaker Anita Among praised their commitment to regional peace during a session at Parliament on March 10, 2025. She reiterated Uganda’s support for African solutions to African problems, stating, “As Africans, we have always agreed that African problems can only be solved locally.”

Among stressed the importance of securing peace in the DRC for the stability of the broader Great Lakes Region. She remarked on the shared responsibility of African leaders in fostering peace, asserting, “Problem-solving is why they are here. We want to see how best peace can be created in the DRC and that peace can only be achieved with our heads of state and with us as Africans. It begins with us.”

The Speaker highlighted Uganda’s ongoing contributions to the forum, noting that the country fulfills its financial responsibilities. Butete elaborated on the delegation’s objectives, marking this visit as the fourth phase addressing peace and security in Eastern DRC. She articulated that “without peace, we cannot interact, and even regional integration cannot prosper. Peace is a precursor to development.”

Butete emphasized the necessity for African nations to manage their own security and avoid the involvement of external forces. She expressed the sentiment, “We don’t want to invite strangers to come and intervene in our affairs when we have responsible leaders in our presence who can take charge and guide citizens to ensure peace and stability in the region.”

The outcomes of the delegation’s discussions will be presented to the PF-ICGLR plenary in April, where it will be elevated for further deliberation. As Butete approaches the end of her term, she underscored the need for concrete advancements before a leadership transition to Angola.

The PF-ICGLR delegation’s mission in Uganda emphasizes the importance of regional leadership in achieving peace in the DRC. Speaker Anita Among reaffirmed Uganda’s commitment to fostering peace as foundational for development within the Great Lakes Region. With a focus on local solutions to security challenges, the discussions are poised to yield significant insights for further action in the upcoming PF-ICGLR plenary.

Original Source: www.zawya.com