Zambia’s Vice President Demands Urgent End to Eastern DRC Conflict, Warns of Deepening Regional Crisis
The Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, Her Honour Dr W.K. Mutale Nalumango, has called for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), warning that the prolonged conflict continues to fuel widespread suffering and regional instability.
Dr Nalumango made the call on 10 January 2026 when she addressed the Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Defence of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
She expressed deep concern over the humanitarian consequences of the violence, particularly its devastating impact on vulnerable groups such as women and children.
In her address, the Vice President urged the Ministers of Defence to take decisive action to end the long-standing tensions in the eastern DRC.
“We must identify a solution that has eluded generations,” Dr Nalumango said, stressing that the continued activities of armed groups require urgent and coordinated regional intervention.
She appealed to delegates to place humanity at the centre of their deliberations, reminding them that peace and security are fundamental to human dignity.
Meanwhile, ICGLR Executive Secretary Dr Mundia Luwabelwa noted that the ongoing instability in the eastern DRC has displaced millions of people across the region, forcing families to flee their homes in search of safety.
Dr Luwabelwa urged Member States to sustain the momentum of existing peace initiatives, emphasising that durable peace can only be achieved through collective action.
He also expressed appreciation to the governments of the United States and Qatar for their mediation efforts, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in resolving conflicts within the Great Lakes region.
During a closed-door session, the Committee announced new leadership for the Expanded Joint Verification Mechanism (EJVM) in the DRC. Brigadier General Charles Nakeempa of Zambia was appointed Commander, while Colonel Arlindo Sebastiao Vandunem of Angola was named Deputy Commander.
The appointment of the two senior officers is seen as a renewed commitment by the ICGLR to strengthen monitoring and verification of security developments in the eastern DRC, as regional leaders intensify efforts to restore peace and stability.
