On Monday, 8 June 2026, Lomé hosted a high-level meeting focused on African mediation efforts for the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the broader Great Lakes region. Chaired by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the African Union’s designated mediator, the gathering centred on a key objective: better coordinating the still-fragmented peace initiatives.
Around the table sat facilitators appointed by the African Union, alongside 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 array of actors highlights the complexity of a file where regional frameworks, institutional mandates, and parallel diplomatic efforts intersect.
A mediation process taking shape
This biannual meeting follows up on discussions held in Lomé last January. At that time, participants had already focused on the coherence of the mediation framework and the need to strengthen the peace process.
Faure Gnassingbé noted that progress has 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 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 centre of his approach, Faure Gnassingbé defends 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 credibility of the process.
Stakeholders welcomed this leadership, saying it helps restore trust among actors and harmonise the efforts underway. For them, the success of the 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 resulted in 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 emphasised 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, the states and organisations involved were called upon 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 springboard
Ultimately, this meeting confirms the growing role of Lomé as a diplomatic platform on the Congolese file. Togo is gradually establishing itself as a convergence point for discussions related to peace in the Great Lakes.
It remains to be seen whether this coordination drive will produce tangible effects on the ground. In such a long and shifting crisis, the value of a mediation is measured less by its announcements than by its ability to keep actors around the same table and advance, step by step, a common roadmap.
