Leaders during the 26th ICGLR Audit Committee Meeting aimed at advancing responsible natural resource governance in the Great Lakes Region on April 23, 2025/ICGLR
The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has kicked off two major meetings at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.
The 26th Audit Committee Meeting and the 30th Regional Committee Meeting will run from April 23 to 30, 2025.
On behalf of the Principal Secretary, State Department for Mining, Philip Kirui, Chairperson of the ICGLR Audit Committee, welcomed participants and emphasised the immense potential of the Great Lakes Region, which is richly endowed with 3TGs.
He acknowledged that minerals have sometimes fueled conflicts, illicit trade, and instability.
Kirui emphasised that the significance of the Audit Committee Meeting extends beyond technical matters such as accrediting audit firms or reviewing compliance reports.
“It is also about reaffirming our collective political will to act—to stop smuggling, to close the loopholes, to empower legitimate exporters, and to give confidence to international markets that minerals from our region are conflict-free, ethically sourced, and transparently traded,” he stated.
The conferences aim to strengthen regional cooperation and promote transparency in natural resource management.
Member states seek to turn the region’s mineral wealth into a foundation for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.
Central to the discussions is the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM). This tool was set up to combat illegal mineral exploitation and support legitimate trade. It ensures traceability through mine inspections, mineral tracking, and third-party audits.
The meetings provide a platform for policymakers, technical experts, and stakeholders to review progress and agree on next steps.
They are also evaluating the implementation of the Six Tools against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR), adopted by ICGLR Heads of State in 2010.
The Six Tools are anchored in the ICGLR Pact on Security, Stability and Development, and its Protocol on Natural Resources. They aim to shift the region’s mineral trade from a source of conflict to a path toward growth.