PREAMBLE

We, Heads of State and Government of the member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region:

Deeply concerned by the recurrent conflicts and persistent insecurity within and between the States of the Great Lakes Region, while recognising the efforts and initiatives undertaken at the national, regional and international level to resolve these conflicts and promote security;

Reaffirming our commitment, subscribed to in the Declaration on Peace, Security, Democracy and Development in the Great Lakes Region, adopted in Dar-es-Salaam (United Republic of Tanzania) on 20 November 2004 to make this region ”… a space of sustainable peace and security for States and peoples, political and social stability, shared growth and development”;

Recalling the African Union’s Solemn Declaration on the Common African Defence and Security Policy 2004, which encourages ‘the conclusion and ratification of non-aggression Pacts between and among African States and the harmonization of such agreements, including the Pact of Non-Aggression of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC);

Recalling the African Union Pact of Non-aggression and Common Defence adopted by the Summit of the African Union in Abuja on 31 January 2005;

Taking account of the provisions of the Security Council Resolution 1325, on the protection of women and children during armed conflicts and the need for the equitable representation of women in making decisions aimed at ending such conflicts;

Reaffirming that the obligation of non-interference in the internal affairs of any State and that of refraining in international relations from any military, political, economic or other form of coercion aimed against the sovereignty, political independence or territorial integrity of any State in accordance with international law, are essential conditions for ensuring peace, security, stability and development in the Great Lakes Region;

Mindful of the responsibility of States to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, and gross violations of human rights in the Great Lakes Region;

Reaffirming the strict obligation of each State not to permit the use of its territory as a base for subversion or aggression against other States;

Reaffirming further the duty of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law;

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