Kinshasa, DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo has renewed its push for deeper regional integration as a cornerstone for lasting peace and shared prosperity in the Great Lakes Region, rallying governments, development partners and private sector actors to back its voice for the same.
This was the highlight of the 9ᵗʰ ICGLR Summit, where more than 250 officials, economic leaders, international partners and financial institutions convened in Kinshasa for the “High-Level Segment” on regional economic integration, reflecting the strong political will of ICGLR member states to deliver tangible progress under the DRC’s leadership of the bloc.
Opening the session, DRC Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka called for a new vision for the Great Lakes, one rooted in concrete action, sincere cooperation and shared development. She emphasised that peace in the region must be grounded in investments that generate jobs, infrastructure, trade, and mutual trust.
Suminwa reiterated the DRC’s ambition to serve as an integrating state at the crossroads of multiple regional economic communities, positioning the country as a driver of continental convergence.
Three Strategic Corridors in Focus
Discussions spotlighted three flagship regional integration projects with the potential to reshape economic connectivity: The Lobito Corridor, aimed at strengthening logistical and mining flows between the DRC, Zambia and Angola through the Atlantic, the Tanzania–Burundi–DRC Railway Corridor, a strategic link to the Indian Ocean and new global markets, and the DRC–Uganda Road Corridor: Transforming border zones into hubs of shared prosperity.
Sector ministers, regional bodies, development banks, private sector players and international experts agreed on the need for harmonised policies, reduced institutional duplication and stronger coordination across existing integration frameworks.
Speakers noted that effective regional integration must be people-centred, responding directly to the social and economic needs of populations living along the corridors.
Diplomacy and Investment as Tools for Stability
Diplomatic exchanges reaffirmed the indispensable role of partners including the African Union, European Union, United Nations, and regional economic blocs in supporting states to achieve coherent and sustainable integration.
Participants emphasised that economic diplomacy, anchored in mobility, cross-border incentives, and complementary public-private investments, is emerging as one of the most powerful tools for lasting stability.
Closing the forum, DRC Minister of Regional Integration Floribert Anzuluni urged member states not to allow the initiative to “become a mere talk show with no follow-up.” He insisted on strict monitoring mechanisms and robust networks to ensure commitments translate into measurable results.
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