Plans to sign the Virunga Transboundary Collaboration Treaty between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo collapsed last week as the three countries failed to reach an agreement during a three-day meeting in Kigali.

The Congolese joined the March 19-21 consultative meeting on the second day. The DRC delegation met separately from the Ugandan and Rwandan ones, a delegate told The EastAfrican. The media was barred from the closed-door meeting.

“The Congolese team came late; they are doing their separate consultations in another room,” said Vincent Mukwege Buhendwa, the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (GVTC) communications officer at the scene. “Rwanda and Uganda are meeting in another room.

“Hopefully, deliberations from both sides will lead to the treaty being signed, which will be a positive development for all member countries.”

Past efforts to sign the treaty were frustrated by issues such as political tension between partner states, violent conflict in Congo and distribution and management of proceeds from Virunga tourism, which largely comes from mountain gorillas.

The neighbours have differed on the tripartite pact to push forward the conservation agenda of the Virunga region. But in an interview, GVTC assistant secretary-general Juvenal Mukeshimana expressed optimism that the treaty would be signed this time round.

“The negotiations have in the past hit several snags — such as change of ministers, where countries had to start from scratch, and political misunderstanding between countries. But this time there is optimism that the treaty will be signed.”

Asked whether the seemingly tense atmosphere and the fact that some parties were holding separate talks were not a bad sign, Mr Mukeshimana said the fact that they came to the meeting at all was a positive sign.

As a way of dealing with insecurity in Virunga, which was one of the biggest challenges to conservation in the corridor, DRC had reportedly suggested that member countries collaborate in neutralising the armed groups that are based there. Rwanda disagreed with this, however, saying each country should deal with the groups destabilising its side of the border.

DRC has previously accused Rwanda of being behind the insecurity.

On why the treaty was not signed, Telesphore Ngoga, the transboundary conservation analyst at the RDB, told The EastAfrican: “We underestimated the time needed to discuss the issues; we worked together on a draft treaty.

“If we had more time, maybe we would have finished and submitted the document. We haven’t yet set another date.”