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Conference for Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region

European External Action Service (EEAS)

30.10.2025
30 October 2025

Excellencies,

Dear colleagues,

I want to thank President Macron for convening this conference in Paris at a critical moment for the Great Lakes Region.

There is momentum for peace. Recent African and international steps underline that progress is possible. And the mediation process by the US and Qatar produced agreements that could lead to change on the ground, if they are implemented.

And that is the key here - implementation. The Great Lakes have seen many agreements but not enough action.

There are now developments that go in the wrong direction.

Armed confrontations, troop reinforcements, and hate speech do not help the international efforts to support the region or the possibilities for sustainable peace.

Action means:

• The neutralisation of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR);
• The full respect for the territorial integrity of DRC;
• And the withdrawal of foreign troops and equipment.

And efforts to facilitate humanitarian access and promote inclusive intra-Congolese dialogue could also be small catalysts for sustainable peace.

Whatever the European Union can do to give peace a chance, we will do. I'll give you three examples:

First, we will keep engaging with all stakeholders and all countries of the Great Lakes region to seek diplomatic solutions. Be it through the shuttle diplomacy or our Special Representative for the region, contact between our delegations and meetings on the highest level.

Second, ahead of the EU-African Union Summit, we will keep supporting mediation efforts led by the African Union. I want to pay tribute here to the African Union's mediator President Gnassingbé. For a solution to be durable, it needs to be locally-led and locally-owned. That is why we have provided 1 million euro to support the work of the five African Union-mandated mediators. We also foresee more substantive technical, political and substantial support to the mediator and his team.

Third, we will keep supporting local growth and economic development, because this is the surest path to peace. The European Union is a product of this method ourselves. We know it works. That is why we are working on many regional projects in the Great Lakes Region, from hydroelectric dams, to border posts, to work on natural resource supply chains.

A third hydroelectric dam on the Ruzizi river and electric grid between DRC, Burundi and Rwanda is an example of what regional integration looks like in practice. Team Europe is financing around 30% of its costs. It has the potential to deliver power to millions of people. But investors need the fighting to stop.

At the same time, there are urgent needs.

Our priority right now is to alleviate the suffering of millions of people in the region. The EU is already the largest humanitarian partner. We have also provided important logistical support through transporting humanitarian goods and personnel.

After the fall of Goma, the EU organised a Humanitarian Air Bridge that transported over 500 tons of humanitarian goods by plane to Nairobi and then onwards by truck to Goma.

But we want to do more where we can.

Today, together with Commissioner Lahbib, I am pleased to say that we will give 129 million euro of humanitarian assistance already this year, with more coming next year. This must reach the people on the ground. That is why the EU will do everything we can to secure the opening of Goma airport. And the EU - with its Member States - remains by and large the biggest humanitarian donor.

Excellencies,

Colleagues,

There is no military solution to the conflict that will give the region the stability that people want and deserve. Recognising this simple truth and having the courage to move forward is the first step.

The European Union will always support efforts that protect the people and uphold international law, including territorial integrity.

And with strong leadership from the African partners, there is a real chance to end years of devastation and turn over a new leaf.

Thank you.