Regional Cooperation in the Great Lakes Region A contribution to peacebuilding?

This case study seeks to analyse the peacebuilding potential of regional cooperation initiatives in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It highlights two such initiatives on cross-border trade and energy that integrate peacebuilding objectives: the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR) and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL). Within the report, attempts are made to measure the success rate of the two regional cooperation initiatives in reaching their objectives and what obstacles hindered their progress. The study then concludes with recommendations for the European Commission and other donors to improve regional cooperation in the Great Lakes.