Overview
The Great Lakes Countries Peace and Reconciliation Lodges Council is established to strengthen peace, reconciliation, social cohesion, and cross-border cooperation among communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, with a longer-term objective of wider participation across the Great Lakes region.
The Council is established to create a permanent network of “Paillottes de Paix,” or peace lodges: neutral community spaces for dialogue, mediation, training, innovation, and cooperation. These spaces are intended to bring together citizens, young people, women, local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, public institutions, researchers, economic actors, and international partners to prevent conflict and support lasting peace.
The Great Lakes region faces recurring armed conflict, displacement, poverty, youth unemployment, gender-based violence, communal tensions, misinformation, environmental degradation, and climate-related pressures. The Council is established to address the need for sustained intercommunity dialogue and stronger trust between communities and institutions.
Objectives and Intended Activities
The Council’s objectives include conflict prevention, reconciliation, human security, social justice, and local economic development. Its mandate is to support ethical and inclusive leadership, the empowerment of youth and women, environmental protection, and inclusive economic opportunity.
The intended purpose of the peace lodge network is to create opportunities for communities to engage in dialogue, develop mediation skills, strengthen cooperation, and address shared challenges. A central priority is to enable young people to contribute to peace, democratic governance, and sustainable development.
The Council is established to promote collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society, linking community-level priorities with wider institutional and international support. Its objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Impact and Legacy
The Council is established to advance United World Leaders’ mission of international cooperation, socioeconomic prosperity, dialogue, peace, and lasting positive impact. It is intended to provide opportunities for participants to help develop relationships and community structures that strengthen trust and support practical cooperation across borders.
The Council’s intended legacy is lasting stability, social cohesion, and prosperity for communities across the Great Lakes region and for future generations, through the connection of reconciliation with inclusive economic development and local leadership.
Invitation to Participate
Individuals and organizations interested in leadership, participation, strategic collaboration, or support are invited to contact opportunities@unitedworldleaders.org.