25th meeting of Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) audit committee opened in Juba

By Jennifer James

The 25th meeting of the International Conference of Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) audit committee opened in Juba, focusing on accountability, transparency, and oversight within the region.

This three-day audit meeting precedes the Great Lakes ministerial summit addressing the illicit exploitation of natural resources, scheduled for November 4-5. Following that, a regional forum on mineral value addition and cross-border trade will take place from November 6-8.

Speaking during the opening, Eng. James Kundu, the Director General at the Ministry of Mining and guest of honor, welcomed the attendees. He acknowledged that South Sudan is not yet a member of the ICGLR audit committee but expressed a commitment to meeting the necessary requirements for future membership. Kundu encouraged participants to engage in fruitful discussions and enjoy their time in South Sudan.

Mr. Philip Kilpangat, Vice Chair of the ICGLR Audit Committee, emphasized that the meeting presents an opportunity to strengthen strategies and reaffirm a shared commitment to accountability and responsible resource management. He mentioned that discussions would begin with updates from third-party audits across DRC, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, providing critical insights into current standings and areas for progress.

Kilpangat outlined plans to focus on corrective action strategies for South Kivu and emphasized the need for practical improvements that would directly benefit communities. On the final day, the committee will accredit new audit firms, enhancing capacity and introducing new perspectives to better fulfill the ICGLR’s mission.

Ms. Scholastica Mwau-Kuligha, ICGLR Internal Auditor, representing the Great Lakes Executive Secretary, reported significant advancements in third-party audit implementation across the region. She noted that nine corrective action plans for South Kivu had been completed, with three more in Tanganyika nearing completion. This progress is crucial for strengthening the regional certification mechanism, a cornerstone in the fight against illegal resource exploitation.

The ICGLR is an intergovernmental organization composed of 11 countries working towards sustainable peace, security, and development. Established in the 1990s amid conflicts in the DRC and the 1994 Rwanda genocide, its members include Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, DRC, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola, and South Sudan. In October of last year, ministers from the Great Lakes region convened in Nairobi to develop a plan to combat illicit mineral trade, which includes harmonizing laws, formalizing the mineral sector, enhancing transparency, and creating a database to trace mineral origins.