Paris Conference on the Great Lakes Region: A Path to Peace or Another Unrealized Promise?

A major international conference focused on peace and development in the Great Lakes region is scheduled for Thursday in Paris.

Humanitarian agencies continue to warn that insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying, worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis. Twelve aid organizations operating in the DRC, including Oxfam, Médecins du Monde and Save the Children, have called for urgent global action to assist civilians facing escalating hardship.

Representatives from these organizations will take part in the Paris conference, which aims to mobilize international support to address critical humanitarian needs in eastern DRC and neighboring countries.

Yet there are growing concerns that the conference may not deliver meaningful progress toward peace. Analysts point to earlier peace efforts in Washington and Doha that have so far produced limited results.

Seven Million Displaced and 28 Million Facing Hunger

United Nations figures indicate that more than seven million people in the DRC have been displaced from their homes, while approximately 28 million are experiencing acute food insecurity.

The country’s 2025 humanitarian response plan requires 2.5 billion US dollars, but only 16 percent of the needed funding has been secured.

More Than 50 Delegations to Attend

The meeting, formally known as The Conference for Peace and Development in the Great Lakes Region, is being organized by the French government in partnership with Togo, and supported by the African Union, the United States and Qatar. Delegates from more than 50 countries and international organizations are expected to attend.

Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye was initially scheduled to participate, but an official from his office told the BBC that he canceled his trip due to “overlapping engagements”.

France says the conference will seek to advance diplomatic efforts while coordinating humanitarian, economic and security initiatives to support long-term stability in the DRC and the wider region.

Promising Commitments, Limited Action

Analysts caution that this gathering risks repeating past patterns, producing strong declarations without concrete implementation. As peace talks in Washington and Doha remain stalled, the Congolese government continues to insist that security must take priority over commerce, calling for fighting to cease before economic agreements are made.

In 2022, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted talks in New York involving Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi in an attempt to revive regional peace efforts. The initiative brought limited tangible results.

For France, the Paris conference is seen as an opportunity to show leadership by moving beyond political rhetoric and taking measurable action on the African continent.

Observers note that despite conferences and diplomatic discussions, families in eastern Congo, particularly women and children, continue to endure violence and displacement, highlighting a persistent disconnect between policy and reality on the ground.

Real Impact or Renewed Uncertainty?

It remains uncertain whether this week’s conference will deliver meaningful progress for the Great Lakes region or become yet another moment of unfulfilled promises and delayed hope.