AU mediator Faure Gnassingbé pushes for stability in eastern DRC

Faure Gnassingbé, Togo’s President of the Council of Ministers and African Union (AU) mediator for the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region, chaired a high-level meeting in Lomé on Monday. The session focused on a semi-annual review of activities under the African mediation framework.

Strategic participants included AU facilitators, delegates from international partners such as the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and representatives from regional bodies including the East African Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Southern African Development Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

Gnassingbé acknowledged progress in structuring the African mediation, particularly since the Lomé meeting dedicated to coherence and consolidation of the peace process in the DRC and the wider region.

“We have reached a significant milestone since January by bringing more order to the architecture of African mediation,” he stated. He added, “I am convinced this meeting marks a meaningful advance in improving our collective action and in pursuing lasting solutions to this crisis.”

Despite these gains, the mediator stressed the need to continue efforts to enhance coherence and coordination among the various mediation mechanisms engaged in the peace process across this part of the continent.

Reaffirming his commitment to the mission entrusted by the AU, Gnassingbé called for sustained collective mobilization to support stability in the DRC. “We will carry out this mission with humility, determination, and perseverance. Despite the challenges, we also see many willing partners ready to accompany us in this quest for peace,” he emphasized.

To maintain momentum, the meeting endorsed measures to optimize mediation, including adjusting work plans for the Panel of Facilitators’ members for the second half of 2026 and developing, within fifteen days, an operational action plan detailing implementation modalities for the decisions reached.

With renewed collective commitment, participants pledged to apply these measures with diligence and coherence.