NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 21 — Kenya and the African Union have called for a stronger, more coordinated regional response to mounting security and humanitarian crises in Africa’s Great Lakes Region, arguing that lasting peace will depend on inclusive governance and greater involvement of women and young people rather than military interventions alone.

📻 Breaking It Down

The appeal was made on Monday as policymakers, diplomats, parliamentarians, civil society representatives, women’s and youth organizations, academics and development partners gathered in Nairobi for the five-day International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Consultative Forum and Great Lakes Round Table Meeting.

The forum seeks to strengthen regional cooperation on peacebuilding, governance and economic integration at a time when eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and other parts of the region continue to grapple with armed conflict, humanitarian displacement, violent extremism and cross-border insecurity.

Opening the meeting, Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action Anne Wang’ombe warned that today’s security challenges transcend national borders and require collective political action.

📌 What You Need to Know

“The region faces an increasingly interconnected web of armed conflict, violent extremism, forced displacement, humanitarian crises, climate-related insecurity, transnational organized crime and gender-based violence,” Wang’ombe said.

“These realities call for stronger collaboration, collective leadership and sustained regional action.”

She reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to the objectives of the ICGLR, describing the regional bloc as an essential platform for political dialogue, conflict prevention, good governance and sustainable development across the Great Lakes Region.

Wang’ombe said experience has demonstrated that military operations alone cannot secure lasting stability, stressing that sustainable peace requires accountable institutions, respect for human rights and inclusive governance that gives women and young people a meaningful role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

“The consultations provide an important opportunity for member states to evaluate emerging risks, exchange experiences and strengthen coordinated responses to increasingly complex cross-border challenges,” she said.

Kenya also highlighted progress in implementing its Third Kenya National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (KNAP III), which aims to strengthen women’s leadership in mediation, peacebuilding and conflict prevention through partnerships with county governments, community peace structures, civil society organizations, youth groups and development partners.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya