Regional mediators assess Congo crisis at Togo talks

Lomé served as the gathering point for a high-stakes diplomatic summit on June 7–8, 2026, focused on the escalating conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) joined forces with delegates from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN). Their mission: to assess the alignment of peace proposals and measure how far rival factions remain from a sustainable resolution.

Togo’s role in unifying divergent peace efforts

The selection of Lomé as the host city reflects deliberate strategy. Faure Gnassingbé, the African Union’s lead facilitator for the Congo file, has spent months attempting to merge overlapping mediation tracks that have operated in parallel without clear coordination. The Nairobi process, led by the EAC, and the Luanda initiative, historically driven by Angola under former President João Lourenço, have progressed independently. Despite tentative steps toward convergence in 2024, tangible results on the ground remain elusive.

Diplomats in attendance conceded that fragmented coordination remains the weakest link in peace efforts. Several speakers emphasized the need to streamline communication channels to prevent armed groups, particularly the March 23 Movement (M23), from exploiting divisions between mediators. The rebel group’s recent military advances across North Kivu and South Kivu have reshaped regional security dynamics, complicating prospects for dialogue.

Diplomatic deadlock persists between Kinshasa, Kigali, and the M23

While the Lomé talks highlighted incremental progress, expectations remain unmet. Direct negotiations between Kinshasa and the M23, once firmly rejected by Congolese authorities, have finally begun—pressured by regional mediators and international partners. Equally critical is the stalled bilateral process between the DRC and Rwanda, which faces allegations from UN reports and Western governments of backing the rebel faction.

Mediators stressed that delayed implementation of prior commitments—such as the withdrawal of foreign forces and the demobilization of armed groups—continues to undermine stability. The SADC’s deployment in the DRC (SAMIDRC) suffered significant losses in early 2025, exposing the limitations of military solutions to a conflict deeply rooted in economic exploitation, land disputes, and identity-based tensions.

Illicit mining fuels war economy, complicating peace talks

Beyond political deadlock, participants warned of the urgent need to dismantle illegal mineral supply chains in Kivu. Coltan, tin, gold, and tungsten fund a war economy with global reach. Several mediators advocated for a regional traceability system—seen as essential to any lasting de-escalation.

The Lomé meeting produced no headline-grabbing breakthroughs, but it reaffirmed the necessity of an integrated approach. Future phases must include civil society actors from the DRC, who have long been sidelined in favor of state-led diplomacy. Civil society leaders in North and South Kivu, along with customary authorities, are now viewed as pivotal to translating any agreement into on-the-ground reality.

Yet mediators departed without a firm timeline for a comprehensive accord. The coming weeks will determine whether the momentum from Lomé can shift the trajectory of a conflict that has defied regional peace frameworks for over three decades.