Pretoria - There is an increasing glimmer of hope that the previously intractable issues of conflict and instability in the Great Lakes Region will be resolved.
This was President Jacob Zuma’s observation after concluding his working visit to Angola, where he attended the 6th Ordinary Summit of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) in Luanda.
President Zuma said the summit discussed, among other issues, the political and security situation in the Great Lakes Region including South Sudan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.
"A full report of the ICGLR Summit will be presented at the next African Union Summit, suffice for me to say there is renewed hope that we will solve some of the conflicts that have plagued this region," said the President on Wednesday.
While South Africa is not a member of the ICGLR, the country is nonetheless always invited as an observer of ICGLR meetings. This is largely due to South Africa’s extensive and long-term involvement in the peace-making and peace-keeping process in the Great Lakes Region.
President Zuma was accompanied by Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and State Security Minister David Mahlobo. - SAnews.gov.za
