Uganda is hosting the 12th High-Level Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) Summit at State House Entebbe, reaffirming its commitment to peace, security, and cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the broader Great Lakes Region.
The Peace, Security, and Cooperation (PSC) Framework, established in 2013 under the auspices of the United Nations, African Union, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and Southern African Development Community (SADC), aims to address the root causes of instability in eastern DRC through collective regional responsibility. Évariste Ndayishimiye,the President of Burundi is participating in the summit.
The summit, which commenced on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, brings together heads of state from the Great Lakes Region, top envoys from the African Union, the United Nations, and international development partners.
The meeting seeks to assess progress and reinforce joint commitments toward peace and stability in eastern DRC and the wider region.
This year’s summit occurs amid persistent insecurity in eastern DRC, marked by the resurgence and territorial expansion of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group, growing regional tensions, and mounting international pressure for coordinated action.
Uganda has been actively involved in military and diplomatic initiatives aimed at neutralizing rebel groups and fostering cross-border stability.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently engaged in discussions with UN Special Envoy Huang Xia to deliberate on regional peace and the upcoming summit’s agenda.
The high-level engagement is expected to deliver key declarations on the disarmament of armed groups, cross-border cooperation, and humanitarian response frameworks.
The summit will also evaluate the implementation of previous resolutions, including the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773, which called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC.
Earlier this week, foreign affairs ministers from member states convened in Kampala ahead of the regional summit to extensively discuss the structural causes of instability and the recurring cycles of conflict in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region.
John Mulimba, Uganda’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of regional cooperation, highlighted that eleven countries in the region signed the PSC Framework in 2013, committing to national, regional, and international actions to consolidate peace and security in eastern DRC and to promote intergovernmental cooperation.
The previous summit was held in Burundi in May 2023, where leaders assessed progress in implementing the PSC Framework’s commitments toward regional peace and cooperation.
As the summit progresses, stakeholders remain hopeful that renewed commitments and collaborative efforts will pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region.
