The Agreement establishing a uniform river regime and creating CICOS and its Addendum, signed on November 21, 1999 and February 22, 2007, entrusts CICOS with two main missions:
- promoting inland navigation;
- integrated water resources management.
CICOS 'area of competence is the entire Congo River watershed located in the territories of member states.
In order to carry out these missions, CICOS has set itself the objectives of:
- guarantee the sustainable management of waterways;
- harmonize regulations on inland waterway transport for the safety of navigation and the promotion of the environment;
- integrate all uses of water resources into regional planning;
- optimize water allocations by use;
- share between States the benefits generated by the uses of water;
- support development and fight against poverty in the sub-region;
- promote food security.
