Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba (right) attending the 14th meeting of EAC Speakers Forum. (File Photo/Courtesy).

The Deputy Speaker of the national parliament said South Sudan will host the Great Lakes Conference next Friday, March 31, 2023.

Great Lakes Conference is an intergovernmental organization that brings together 12 other countries.

The member-states are Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Sudan, Angola, Zambia, Burundi, and Central Africa Republic.

Nathaniel Oyet said parliamentary speakers and legislators from the African countries will attend the conference in Juba to discuss parliamentary diplomacy in enhancing conflict resolution.

Oyet said the regional bloc was formed as a result of the conflicts in some member-states including DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Central Africa Republic among others.

“This conference is taking place in the Republic of South Sudan, the speaker of the transitional national legislature of South Sudan will be presiding over the conference,” Oyet said on Eye Radio’s Sundown Show on Friday.

“So, it is going to discuss the role of parliament in mitigating conflicts in the region, and fostering peace and greater integration of African countries, especially among member-states.”

Oyet said the conference will also discuss issues related to borders, terrorism and insurgencies “that sometimes are a flashpoint of conflict.”

“And then there are issues of international terrorism, and issues of insurgency in the region; some member-states are accusing other member-states for example in DR Congo. So, all these will be discussed in Juba, and in the end, there is going to be a Juba declaration.”

The Great Lakes parliament is different from the East African parliament in that it is not well structured while the EAC legislative assembly is a sitting parliament.

South Sudan pushed to host this year’s conference during last year’s event which was held in Nairobi under the leadership of Kenya’s outgoing speaker.

President Salva Kiir will inaugurate the event in Juba on March 31st.