African mediation strengthens in Lomé for coordinated peace efforts in eastern DRC

Significant progress has been noted in the structuring of African mediation aimed at peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This was a key takeaway from the technical session of the semi-annual peace process evaluation meeting, held from June 7 to 8, 2026 in Lomé. The meeting was convened by Togo’s Council President, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who serves as the African Union mediator for resolving the crisis in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.

Following a ministerial phase led earlier by the minister in charge of Cooperation and Togolese Abroad, Yackoley Johnson, President of the Council Faure Gnassingbé chaired a meeting on Monday, June 8 in Lomé dedicated to assessing the work carried out under the African mediation umbrella.

The diplomatic gathering brought together the Togolese mediation team, members of the College of Facilitators designated by the African Union, as well as representatives from the United Nations, the East African Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Southern African Development Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to the Togolese Presidency, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé welcomed the presence of facilitators, regional organizations, and international partners at this evaluation meeting, noting that it reflects their unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and development in the Great Lakes region.

The AU mediator particularly praised the progress achieved since the Lomé meeting dedicated to coherence and consolidation of various peace initiatives in DRC and the Great Lakes region. He stated that these advances represent an important step toward better coordination of diplomatic and political efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis affecting eastern DRC.

“We have taken a significant step since January by bringing more order to the architecture of African mediation. I am convinced that this meeting marks a meaningful advance in improving our collective action and in the search for sustainable solutions to this crisis,” declared the African Union mediator.

Mr. Gnassingbé emphasized the need to continue efforts to further strengthen coherence, complementarity, and coordination among the various mediation mechanisms involved in the peace process in this region of the continent. He insisted on the importance of maintaining a collective and sustained mobilization for stability, peace, and security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

In his view, only concerted action by regional, continental, and international actors will consolidate the gains made and foster the emergence of lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.

“We will continue this mission with humility, determination, and perseverance. Despite the difficulties, we also see many good wills ready to accompany us in this search for peace,” he stressed.

This new meeting follows the high-level session on coherence and consolidation of the peace process in Democratic Republic of Congo, held on January 16 and 17 in Lomé, Togo. Initiated by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of Ministers of the Togolese Republic and lead mediator designated by the African Union for eastern DRC, that meeting aimed to strengthen trust among parties, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments made by various stakeholders in the peace process.

That initiative, which brought together around the same table a panel of facilitators composed of former heads of state, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey, representatives of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as several international partners, was part of the diplomatic efforts undertaken in recent months for stability in eastern DRC.

Following that meeting, the African Union unveiled the architecture of its mediation for the peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to the framework, the mediation is under the authority of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, designated AU mediator. He is supported by a Togolese mediation support team composed of the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic.

According to the same document, five co-facilitators, all former African heads of state, are in charge of specific thematic areas. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is responsible for military and security matters. Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde handles humanitarian issues. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta oversees dialogue with local armed groups. Former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi is in charge of regional economic cooperation, while former Central African Republic transitional president Catherine Samba-Panza leads files related to civil society, reconciliation, and gender issues.

The mechanism also includes an independent joint secretariat associating Togo, the African Union, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR). The African Union Commission coordinates with international partners, including the United Nations, Qatar, the European Union, and the Group of Five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the document specified.