Defence ministers from five Great Lakes countries, including Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are expected to meet in Lusaka, Zambia, on October 18, 2026, to discuss ways to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing insecurity.
The meeting was announced by Huang Xia, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, while briefing the UN Security Council on the security situation, particularly in the DRC.
The participating countries are expected to include Burundi, the DRC, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania. The meeting will be organised in collaboration with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), with the aim of improving security cooperation among the countries concerned.
Huang said the ministers would consider a draft set of harmonised guidelines for disarming foreign armed groups and supporting the reintegration of their former members into civilian life.
The proposed guidelines are intended to establish a coordinated regional approach to dealing with armed groups operating across the Great Lakes region, including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and RED-Tabara, among others.
The planned meeting comes as fighting continues to undermine security in parts of the Great Lakes region, while tensions and mistrust persist between some neighbouring countries.
Beyond the immediate security challenges, Huang also highlighted ongoing efforts to promote the transparent and responsible management of the region’s natural resources.
Although the meeting is intended to strengthen cooperation against armed groups, its impact will depend on whether participating countries agree on the proposed guidelines and how effectively they implement them.
