Parties: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia
Type: Inter-state
These agreements together aim to promote sustainable peace and security in the Great Lakes region. The Preamble to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development reaffirms the “individual and collective determination to transform the Great Lakes Region into a space of durable peace and security, of political and social stability, and of economic growth and shared development by multi-sector cooperation and integration for the sole benefit of our peoples,” which clearly supports TJ aims. It further provides for provisions to ensure the punishment of the crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and all forms of discrimination; protection and assistance to internally displaced persons; and restoring property rights of returning persons. It also provides for specific reconstruction and development zones and establishes a Special Reconstruction and Development Fund.
The Dar-es-Salaam Declaration, which constitutes an integral part of the Pact, expresses support for all the national peace processes in the region, including through promoting good governance, human rights compliance, political participation and address challenges of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and child soldiers, and regionally integrated development. It recognises underlying causes of conflict which have to be addressed, including massive human rights violations, policies of exclusion and marginalisation and impunity of crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. Under the section on principles of good governance, it requires the promotion of national unity, based inter alia on multiculturalism, tolerance and a culture of dialogue. It provides for adoption of national and regional policies aimed at consolidating the rule of law, and promoting effective participation for different socio-economic actors. In addressing humanitarian and social issues, it requires that steps be taken to ensure reintegration and rehabilitation of child soldiers; establishment of regional mechanisms to provide assistance to victims of rape and sexual violence; return of refugees and IDPs; rehabilitation and reconstruction of social and educational infrastructure; and the development of a comprehensive curricula on a culture of peace in the educational systems.