Eastern DRC peace mediation sets priorities for second half of 2026

The President of the Council of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, acting as the African Union mediator for resolving the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region, chaired a meeting on Monday, 8 June 2026 in Lomé. The session focused on a biannual evaluation of activities carried out under the African mediation framework, amid a continued stalemate in ongoing diplomatic initiatives and persistent hostilities between government forces and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebellion.

The gathering brought together members of the College of Facilitators appointed by the African Union, as well as 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).

Held over two days on 7 and 8 June 2026, the meeting aimed to assess progress achieved since the mediation architecture was established in Lomé on 17 January 2026. It also sought to define priorities for the second half of the year, in support of the Washington and Doha processes led respectively by the United States and the State of Qatar.

Strategic guidelines for the second half of 2026

According to the outcome document from the Togolese Presidency, the evaluation meeting adopted several guidelines, including strengthening internal coordination among the Mediator’s Office, the Panel of Facilitators, the African Union Commission, and the independent Joint Secretariat.

Stakeholders also highlighted the importance of structuring and providing an African contribution to the complementary Washington and Doha processes, with the aim of increasing ownership, legitimacy, and ease of implementation.

Participants further called on all states and organisations involved in mediation efforts to enhance their cooperation in a spirit of solidarity, while respecting the responsibilities and mandates defined in the mediation architecture adopted in Lomé on 17 January 2026.

Immediate decisions

The meeting adopted several measures to boost the effectiveness of the mediation process. These include adjustments to the work plans of Panel of Facilitators members for the second half of 2026, as well as the development, within fifteen days, of an operational action plan detailing the modalities for implementing the decisions taken.

“Driven by a renewed collective will and a spirit of shared responsibility, participants committed to implementing the decisions of this meeting with diligence and coherence, to honouring the commitments made, and to working together for the advent of lasting peace in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region,” the Togolese Presidency stated.

This new meeting follows the high-level meeting on coherence and consolidation of the peace process in the DRC, held on 16 and 17 January 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 build trust among the parties, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments made by various actors in the peace process.

That initiative brought together a panel of facilitators composed of former heads of state, Togolese Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey, representatives of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, as well as several international partners. It was part of the diplomatic efforts undertaken in recent months to promote stability in eastern DRC.

At the conclusion of that meeting, the African Union unveiled the architecture of its mediation for the peace process in eastern DRC. Under this framework, the mediation is placed under the authority of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, designated AU mediator. He is supported by a Togolese mediation support team comprising the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic.

Five co-facilitators, all former African heads of state, are assigned specific thematic responsibilities. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo oversees military and security matters. Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde handles humanitarian issues. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta supervises dialogue with local armed groups. Former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi is responsible for regional economic cooperation, while former Central African Republic Transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza leads files related to civil society, reconciliation, and gender issues.

The framework also includes an independent Joint Secretariat involving Togo, the African Union, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region. The African Union Commission ensures coordination with international partners, including the United Nations, Qatar, the European Union, and the Group of Five permanent members of the UN Security Council.