Beyond Washington: CIRID Warns Regional Peace in Africa’s Great Lakes Hinges on Internal Dynamics, Not External Deals
Analysis – A recent deadly bombing in the borderlands of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has cast a stark shadow over freshly signed peace agreements, prompting a leading Swiss-based NGO to issue a sobering critique of the region’s path to stability.
In a press release dated December 5, 2025, CIRID (The Independent Center for Research and Initiatives for Dialogue) argues that the violence, which resulted in civilian casualties in Rugombo, underscores a critical flaw in the current approach: peace cannot be imposed from the outside but must be built from within through proactive, collective regional action.
The “Pax Americana” Put to the Test
The attack occurred shortly after regional heads of state heralded a “new era for peace” following a signing ceremony in Washington. CIRID, which holds special consultative status at the UN ECOSOC, contends this “unjustifiable violence” immediately calls into question the effectiveness of what it terms the “Pax Americana.”
“For peace to be lasting, this regional ‘Pace’ must imperatively be built on an internal, proactive dynamic for genuine peace,” the organization stated, according to its analysis. This perspective shifts the focus from international diplomacy tables to the complex, often unspoken tensions simmering within the region itself.
Internal Initiatives Offer a Glimmer of Hope
CIRID’s analysis is not purely critical; it highlights emerging internal dialogues as potential foundations for a more sustainable peace. The report points to civil society in the DRC pushing for a national dialogue and the discreet discussions among strategists around a proposed “Tanganyika Pact.”
The NGO welcomes this concept, noting its alignment with the International Tanganyika Forum (FIT), an initiative CIRID has championed for over twelve years focused on sustainable development and peace. These grassroots and intra-regional efforts, the analysis suggests, may hold more promise than top-down agreements.
The “Strange” Force and Unspoken Taboos
The report delves into the complexities hindering unity, singling out a proposal for an East African Community (EAC) regional military force. CIRID representative Hakizimana Deo questioned the “strange composition” of a force that would include all EAC member states except Burundi.
“This is puzzling!” Deo stated. For CIRID, this potential exclusion points directly to one of the conflict’s core, often avoided issues. The organization argues that the real problem fueling a persistent “proxy war” is a “set of long-held taboos” intertwined with international appetites for the region’s vast mineral resources.
“The core of the problem… is the set of long-held taboos that, in the face of appetites for the region’s mineral resources, fuel the ‘proxy war,'” the analysis asserts, calling for these issues to be addressed with “generosity and ironclad realism.”
A Call for Independent Voices and a Warning
CIRID concludes with an urgent call for “free, independent, peaceful, and pacifist voices” to lead the debate. The implicit warning is clear: if these internal dynamics and resource-driven conflicts are not confronted head-on by the region’s own stakeholders, an “aggravated expansion of the damage is inevitable.”
The organization’s analysis serves as a crucial reminder that in regions as historically complex as the Great Lakes, a signature on a distant document is merely a first step. The harder work of building trust, addressing exclusion, and managing resource competition remains squarely—and urgently—at home.
This report is based on analysis from a press release by CIRID, as summarized by Burundi Forum. The original CIRID document can be accessed here (PDF).