The Great Lakes region is one of the most populated in Africa, and it has been the scene of violent conflict in recent years. At the roots of these conflicts we often find land issues, as highlighted by the Arusha Accords which marked an important step for peace in the region... From mineral extraction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to agricultural activities, the main sources of income for the majority of the population in Rwanda and Burundi, land remains at the center of the region's economic and social issues.
The European Union (EU), its member states, and Switzerland, are present in these three countries with several programs intervening in the reform of land management systems, or in related areas, such as agriculture or land protection. the environment. What opportunities do European and Swiss interventions offer for sustainable management of land systems? What land management model are they aiming to promote? How do they fit into local social dynamics?
This conference aims to bring together representatives of civil society organizations from Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda, and European countries as well as European decision-makers, in order to discuss the situation of land governance in the three countries and interventions by the EU, its Member States and Switzerland in the area of land in the Great Lakes. The conference will also be an opportunity for EurAc to launch its analysis report on land in the region containing concrete recommendations for a strengthened commitment from European donors and Switzerland in the area.
The conference will be preceded by the screening of an extract from the film “My land, my life, my torment”, produced by the Iriba Center for Multimedia Heritage (Kigali).
Organized by : Hilde Vautmans, MEP (ALDE)
Moderated by : Axelle Fischer (Justice & Peace Commission)
Opening remarks : Hilde Vautmans, MEP (ALDE)
Speakers:
- Louis-Marie Nindorera, independent land expert, Burundi
- Jean Baptiste Safari, Innovation and Training for Development and Peace (IFDP), Bukavu
- Assumpta Muriganeza, Iriba Center for Multimedia Heritage
- Joachim Knoth, (DEVCO, tbc)
- Aymar Nyenyezi Bisoka, Ph.D, Catholic University of Louvain
- Giuseppe Cioffo, European Network for Central Africa (EurAc)
Registration is required to participate in this event:
https://goo.gl/forms/SjRhfOvpSWLSncVY2
