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APPG on the Great Lakes Region of Africa

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Welcome to the APPG

Eric Joyce MP, Chair

WELCOME to the website of The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Great Lakes Region of Africa. This is a political website, but not party political: we are all passionate about the development of a region so vital to the future of Africa. The point of politics isn’t to get elected for its own sake – it’s to drive and influence change for the better. Most people agree that the government is doing a pretty good job on development, but people across the spectrum feel equally strongly about the desperate need for progress in the Great Lakes region. There’s a lot all of us can do to keep pressing for more resources and more development assistance - something that starts with raising awareness of the region as widely as possible in the UK. We try to do that by producing our own reports on the region, by convening working groups like the one below on corporate responsibility, by flagging up latest developments and reports, by lobbying ministers to help effect change.
Read more...
 
UK Delegation visits the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
Written by Sophia Pickles   
Tuesday, 20 July 2010 13:53

Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham and the International Development Minister Stephen O’Brien visit DRC, with particular focus on the economy and business climate. The Millennium Development Goals, UK aid, Upcoming DRC elections and the situation in the east will also be discussed.

 

For more information please click here
 
Regional Post-Conflict Stabilisation in Eastern and Central Africa debate
Written by Sophia Pickles   
Monday, 12 July 2010 11:23

As the Democratic Republic of the Congo celebrated fifty years of independence last week on 30 June 2010, APPG Vice Chair Lord David Chidgey initiated a debate in the House of Lords last week on Regional Post-Conflict Stabilisation in Eastern and Central Africa. He wrote on the need to secure democracy across the Great Lakes region today in the Guardian (click here). The transcript of Lord Chidgey's debate can be found below.

Regional Post-Conflict Stabilisation in Eastern and Central Africa debate (Hansard link)

 
Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 12:42
 
Chris Jackson - Run for Congo
Written by Sophia Pickles   
Monday, 12 July 2010 11:36

After witnessing the situation in the Congo, Chris Jackson is attempting to run 12 marathons in 12 months for Women for Women International, including one in DRC.

 
Last Updated on Thursday, 22 July 2010 12:58
Read more...
 
APPG Vice-Chair Lord Chidgey's article on democracy in the Guardian
Written by Sophia Pickles   
Thursday, 08 July 2010 13:40

APPG vice-chair Lord Chidgey has written an article for the Guardian on securing democracy in the Great Lakes region.

The article highlights the fall out of elections in Kenya and Burundi leading to violence and suppression of opposition politicians. It also notes the mismatch between economic and democratic development in the region.

Furthermore the article expresses concern over the British government drawing down its presence across the GL region at a time when diplomatic contacts are vital and connected to the success of UK foreign policy.

With five members of the East African community and the DRC are holding elections in the coming year, the article states that we must push for transparent polls and the democratic rights of the people voting in these elections.

The article is available at

Securing Democracy in Africa is key
Last Updated on Thursday, 08 July 2010 13:58
 
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IRIN Great Lakes
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Rwanda
Uganda
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