Faure gnassingbé leads mediation talks in Lomé for eastern drc peace

Lomé played host on Monday 8 June 2026 to a high‑level meeting focused on African mediation efforts for the crisis gripping eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the wider Great Lakes region. President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the African Union‑designated mediator, chaired the gathering, which centred on a core issue: better coordinating still fragmented peace initiatives.

Around the table sat the facilitators appointed by the African Union, along with representatives from the United Nations, the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). This mix of actors reflects the complexity of a file where regional frameworks, institutional mandates and parallel diplomatic efforts overlap.

A mediation taking shape

This biannual meeting followed the exchanges held in Lomé last January. At that time, participants had already worked on making the mediation set‑up more coherent and on consolidating the peace process.

Faure Gnassingbé noted that progress had been made since then, especially in the internal organisation of the mediation architecture. In his view, the challenge is no longer just multiplying initiatives, but making them clearer, more consistent and more effective on the ground.

This approach tackles a recurring difficulty in protracted crises: too many players sometimes intervene without sufficient coordination, weakening the impact of diplomatic efforts. In Lomé, the stated priority was therefore to bring order back into the process.

The bet on African dialogue

The African Union mediator reaffirmed his determination to continue his mission despite obstacles. He stressed the need to maintain collective mobilisation for stability in eastern Congo, where violence and armed tensions continue to weigh on civilian populations.

By placing inclusive dialogue at the heart of his approach, Faure Gnassingbé promotes a clear diplomatic line: favour African solutions, carried by African mechanisms, while keeping a link with other international initiatives. This stance aims to avoid duplication and strengthen the process’s credibility.

Stakeholders welcomed this leadership, saying it helps restore trust among actors and harmonise ongoing efforts. For them, the success of mediation depends first on a clear architecture, well‑distributed responsibilities and rigorous follow‑up on commitments.

Decisions for the second half of the year

The Lomé meeting produced several concrete directions. Participants notably decided to strengthen coordination between the Mediator’s Office, the panel of facilitators, the African Union Commission and the independent Joint Secretariat.

They also underlined the importance of building a more structured African contribution to the Washington and Doha processes. The aim is to allow regional actors to better take ownership of these initiatives and to facilitate their implementation.

In the same spirit, the states and organisations involved were called on to intensify their cooperation, respecting the roles defined by the architecture adopted in Lomé on 17 January 2026. An operational action plan must now be finalised within fifteen days to turn these orientations into concrete measures.

Lomé as a hub

At its core, this meeting confirms Lomé’s growing role as a diplomatic platform on the Congolese dossier. Togo is gradually establishing itself as a convergence point for discussions related to peace in the Great Lakes.

Whether this desire for coordination will produce tangible effects on the ground remains to be seen. In such a long and shifting crisis, the value of mediation is measured less by its announcements than by its ability to keep actors around the same table and inch forward a common roadmap.