PAC and the ICGLR sign a Memorandum of Understanding defining areas of cooperation with regard to the Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Great Lakes region of Africa

Bujumbura, Burundi April 17, 2014

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) signed on April 17 a Memorandum of Understanding that defines areas of cooperation with regard to the ICGLR Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Great Lakes Region.

In the terms of this MoU, signed by the ICGLR Executive Secretary, Professor Ntumba Luaba and PAC Executive Director, Bernard Taylor, both parties agreed to collaborate in implementing the Regional Initiative, and in particular the Regional Certification Mechanism for highvalue minerals.

PAC specifically committed to provide technical support to the ICGLR for setting up the regional certification mechanism for high value minerals and in operationalizing and maintaining the certification database. PAC will also support civil society in the Great Lakes region to enable them to play a greater role with respect to monitoring and supporting the implementation of the Regional Initiative.

PAC will also assist, where possible and when feasible, with the promotion and implementation of the six tools of the Regional Initiative on Natural Resources, when required by the ICGLR Conference Secretariat. On its part, ICGLR committed to oversee and coordinate the implementation of its Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources. The Initiative is intended to stem the illegal flow of four conflict-prone minerals – tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold – which have been used to finance armed groups and continue to lend to the instability which has plagued the region for decades.