Faure Gnassingbé pushes for peace coordination in DR Congo crisis

Lomé hosted a high-level meeting on Monday, 8 June 2026, dedicated to African mediation efforts for the crisis shaking eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region. Chaired by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the mediator appointed by the African Union, the session focused on a central challenge: better coordinating still-fragmented peace initiatives.

Around the table sat facilitators designated by the African Union, along with representatives from the UN, the EAC, ECCAS, SADC, ICGLR, and the ICRC. The presence of these actors reflects the complexity of a dossier where regional frameworks, institutional mandates, and parallel diplomatic efforts intersect.

A mediation taking shape

This biannual meeting followed up on discussions held in Lomé last January. At that time, participants had already worked on coherence of the mediation mechanism and the need to consolidate the peace process.

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

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

The bet on African dialogue

The African Union mediator reaffirmed his determination to carry out 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 centre of his approach, Faure Gnassingbé advocates a clear diplomatic line: favour African solutions, driven by African mechanisms, while maintaining links with other international initiatives. This position aims to avoid duplication and strengthen the process’s credibility.

Stakeholders praised this leadership, saying it helps restore trust among actors and harmonise ongoing efforts. For them, successful 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 orientations. 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 goal is to enable better ownership of these initiatives by regional actors and facilitate their implementation.

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

Lomé as a diplomatic hub

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

The question remains whether this coordination drive will produce tangible effects on the ground. In a crisis as long and fluid as this one, the value of mediation is measured less by its announcements than by its ability to keep actors around the same table and to advance, step by step, a common roadmap.