China has donated US$100,000 (Approx. Rwf 55million) to the Executive Secretariat of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). According to a press statement from the ICGLR secretariat, the funds will be delivered by the Chinese Ambassador on behalf of his government and the money will be used to assist the regional body in its communication activities. Based in the Burundian capital Bujumbura, the ICGLR is a regional organ bringing together 11 countries from the eastern and central Africa with the aim of restoring peace and security in the region. “The funds are a gesture of appreciation by the Chinese people to ICGLR for its commitment to the Pact on Security, Stability and Development in the Great Lakes Region signed in Nairobi, Kenya,” reads the statement. The Pact was signed in December 2006 by the eleven Heads of State and Government which include Rwanda. Rwanda is an active member of the Great Lakes region; other members of the region are Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic Congo, Kenya Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The peace pact signed between the eleven countries is made up of 35 articles which mainly determine strict observance of the standards and principles of international humanitarian law which include the protection and assistance of women, children, refugees and displaced persons. “It is for this reason, China decided to make this first appreciable to the ICGLR by indicating that it is just a beginning, China would like to establish a cooperation framework with the ICGLR in order to facilitate the implementation of the 10 Protocols and 33 priority Projects by the ICGLR Executive Secretariat,” says the statement. The ceremony to hand over the donation is expected to be held at the ICGLR headquarters in Bujumbura. Ends
