Regional peace, transparent governance, and sustainable development are at the forefront as Nairobi prepares to host two high-level conferences convened by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
Set to take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) between April 23 and 30, 2025, the 26th ICGLR Audit Committee Meeting and the 30th Regional Committee Meeting will gather policymakers, technical experts, and stakeholders from across the Great Lakes Region. The meetings aim to strengthen regional cooperation, improve accountability systems, and promote the responsible use of natural resources.
A key focus of the conferences is the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) — a system designed to curb the illegal exploitation of minerals and encourage lawful trade. The mechanism ensures transparency across mineral supply chains by enabling coordinated mine inspections, mineral tracking, and third-party audits.
Organized in partnership with the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the conferences will also evaluate the progress of the Six Tools against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR). These tools, adopted by ICGLR Heads of State during a Special Summit in 2010, form part of the legal framework established under the ICGLR Pact on Security, Stability and Development and its accompanying Protocol against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources.
The meetings underscore a continued commitment by ICGLR member states and the African Union to transforming the region’s vast resource wealth into a pillar of peace, economic empowerment, and sustainable development, rather than a source of conflict.
By promoting responsible mineral trade and advancing regional certification standards, the ICGLR and AUC seek to reinforce regional stability, sustainable governance, and shared prosperity for the people of the Great Lakes Region.