{{NAIROBI}} ({Xinhua}) — A regional body has urged member states of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to put in place national laws to fight against the illegal exploitation of natural resources.
Secretary General of the Forum of Parliaments (FP) of Member States of the FP-ICGLR Prosper Higiro told journalists in Nairobi that the uncontrolled exploitation of resources is a major cause of conflict in the region.
“Parliaments should spearhead the process of enacting laws that will ensure natural resources are used for the benefit of its local citizens,” Higiro said during a media briefing on the upcoming fifth Ordinary Session of the Plenary Assembly of the FP- ICGLR that will take place from Jan. 20 to 22 in Nairobi.
FP-ICGLR member states include Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic (CAR), Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
Higiro said that countries such as Rwanda and DR Congo have already put in place laws to ensure its minerals and natural resources uplift the lives of its citizens, adding that all contracts that governments sign for mineral exploitation must be made public.
“This will improve transparency in the use of public resources, ” he said.
Higiro added that rebels prefer to use proceeds from the sale of natural resources to fund their negative activities.
The FP-ICGLR also plans to carry out research on the electoral systems in the region in order to encourage free and fair elections.
The regional body has also played a keep role in finding lasting solutions for the on-going conflicts in the CAR, DR Congo and South Sudan.
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