Luanda, Angola| Kenya’s parliamentary delegation attending the 15th Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Forum on the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) in Luanda, Angola, has called for a strategic reorientation of the region’s budget and a unified, bipartisan approach to resolving persistent conflicts across member states.
Led by the Speaker of the Kenyan Senate, Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi, the delegation emphasized the urgent need to align the ICGLR’s financial resources with the pressing humanitarian and security needs of the Great Lakes Region.
The delegation includes Members of Parliament from both Houses—Mandera Senator Ali Roba, Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri, and nominated Senator Hezena Lemaletian.
Strategic Budgeting for Humanitarian and Development Needs
During deliberations at the FP-ICGLR Executive Committee meeting, Senator Lemaletian, a member of the Committee on Gender, Children, and Vulnerable Persons, decried the negligible budget allocations toward pressing humanitarian concerns—particularly the plight of refugees and marginalized groups.
“The budgetary commitment to critical areas such as the refugee crisis, and the welfare of women, children, and persons with disabilities remains dismal, despite the growing number of displaced persons across the region,” she stated.
She emphasized the necessity of prioritizing these groups, especially in light of ongoing conflicts that have exacerbated human suffering in several ICGLR member countries.
Security Concerns in Eastern DRC: A Call for Regional Unity
The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly its volatile eastern region, dominated discussions.
The FP-ICGLR Executive Committee reviewed an in-depth report from a fact-finding mission conducted between July 2023 and March 2025.
The report revealed that over 120 armed groups continue to operate in the region, destabilizing communities and thwarting efforts at peace and development.
The mission, which engaged with affected populations, regional leaders, and other stakeholders—including Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto—warned of escalating violence unless regional cooperation is intensified.
Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri urged that the findings of the report be escalated to higher decision-making organs, including the Regional Interministerial Committee and the Summit of Heads of State and Government, to pave the way for actionable and binding resolutions.
“This report must go beyond documentation. Let it serve as a catalyst for urgent and coordinated action across governments,” said Rindikiri.
Bipartisanship and Collective Responsibility Emphasized
Kenya’s delegation further stressed that durable solutions to regional instability require bipartisan cooperation and collective responsibility among member states.
They cautioned against partisan approaches in addressing deeply rooted ethnic and political tensions that fuel violence in countries like DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic (CAR).
“Conflicts in the Great Lakes Region transcend borders and politics—they demand unified responses and a commitment to peacebuilding from all stakeholders,” said Speaker Kingi.
Other member state representatives echoed these sentiments, warning that the ripple effects of regional instability—ranging from refugee flows to economic disruptions—necessitate immediate and collaborative responses.
Broader Participation and Next Steps
FP-ICGLR comprises representatives from 12 member states: Angola (host), Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, the Central African Republic (CAR), Sudan, South Sudan, Republic of Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The issue of peace and security has been a central theme at this year’s session, with detailed discussions on emerging and ongoing conflicts, humanitarian emergencies, and the need for robust institutional frameworks for conflict prevention and management.
Speaker Amason Kingi is scheduled to represent Kenya at the FP-ICGLR Conference of Speakers on Wednesday, where further strategic directions and resolutions are expected to be adopted.
The Parliamentary Forum of the ICGLR serves as a platform for legislators across the region to collaborate, share best practices, and influence policy frameworks aimed at enhancing peace, security, and sustainable development across one of Africa’s most conflict-prone but resource-rich regions.
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