ICGLR Meeting



The 30th Meeting of the ICGLR Regional Committee Against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources opened today in Nairobi, Kenya bringing together delegates from the ICGLR Member States who are committed to transforming the region's natural wealth from sources of conflict into drivers of peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Mining, @MiBeMa_2022 and Guest of Honour, Mr. Harry Kimtai, while opening the meeting, emphasized Kenya's progress in implementing the Six Tools framework, particularly in strengthening legal frameworks and formalizing the artisanal mining sector. 


Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony was graced by speakers from the Government of Kenya, the Conference Secretariat and the Regional Committee on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. He also highlighted Kenya's commitment to initiating the Regional Certification Mechanism (RCM) as a critical measure for transparency and accountability.

ICGLR Executive Secretary @JoaoCaholo emphasised that over three decades, the Regional Initiative on Natural Resources (RINR) has established a strong framework through its Six Tools to prevent conflict minerals trade and combat illicit financing of armed groups. He noted that the meeting would prepare technical reports for the upcoming extraordinary meeting of ICGLR Ministers in charge of Mines in Lusaka, Zambia, on 2nd May 2025. He called for strengthening the RCM to not only uphold control and due diligence but also expand regional capacities for constructive trade relations.

The Chairperson of the Regional Committee, Quesnay de Jésus Akabahinga, reiterated the committee's determination to implement the Lusaka Declaration Protocol, noting this meeting will follow up on the progress made since the previous meeting in Juba, South Sudan, in November 2024.

Building a united front against illegal exploitation

Mr. Abdishakur Hussein, the ICGLR National Coordinator for Kenya, welcomed delegates to Nairobi and highlighted the challenge of regional integration as "the extent to which national laws and regulations are harmonized with regional objectives." Mr. Hussein urged delegates to "conduct deliberations with traditional cordiality, warmth, and mutual respect so that we move as one common block, instead of individually.”

Technical agenda and support

The meeting has been convened by the ICGLR Secretariat and the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Kenya with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands via the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the @UEauBurundi via @IMPACTtransform . The meeting will review among others Member States' updates on national roadmap implementation, the development of mineral databases, the Analytical Fingerprint project, and assessment of RINR tools.



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