ICGLR Defense Ministers’ Meeting

Livingstone, January 12, 2026 - The Defense Ministers of ICGLR member states met in an extraordinary session on January 10 in Livingstone, Zambia, to address the humanitarian and security crisis in eastern DRC and across the Great Lakes region, amid ongoing fighting between government forces and the AFC/M23 rebellion. The meeting followed earlier sessions of the ICGLR Specialized Committee of Defense Experts and the Chiefs of Staff, the body responsible for overseeing the Non-Aggression Protocol. A central focus was the performance of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM), tasked with monitoring and investigating security incidents in the region. The mechanism has faced challenges, including irregular meetings and limited reporting, prompting chiefs of staff to draft recommendations for defense ministers. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita, stressed that peace cannot be delayed or subordinated to political calculations, calling for regional mechanisms to become credible, operational, and deterrent to protect civilians and end cycles of violence. He placed particular emphasis on the effective operationalization of the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism Plus (EJVM+), describing it as a test of credibility for both the ICGLR and the region as a whole. During the session, ministers officially installed the new commander and deputy commander of the EJVM, based in Goma, reinforcing the regional security framework. The new roadmap prioritizes the implementation of the Washington and Doha processes, especially the ceasefire mechanism signed on October 14, 2025, between the Congolese government and the AFC/M23 under Qatari mediation. However, implementation on the ground remains difficult, largely because the verification and monitoring mechanism is not yet fully operational. Revitalizing the EJVM is therefore seen as essential to ensuring effective ceasefire monitoring and restoring the credibility of ongoing peace efforts.