President of the Council Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé welcomed two senior United Nations officials in Lomé on Monday, June 8, 2026, to discuss the ongoing crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The visitors were James Swan, the UN secretary-general’s special representative for the DRC and head of MONUSCO, and Huang Xia, the special envoy for the Great Lakes region. This meeting was part of the biannual follow-up to the African Union’s mediation efforts.
Discussions centre on mediation progress
The talks focused on the development of current diplomatic efforts and the role of the United Nations in supporting the African-led mediation. In Lomé, the participants reviewed initiatives aimed at bridging divides and preserving a framework for dialogue around a matter that remains both politically and security-sensitive.
The simultaneous presence of the UN envoys and the African Union-appointed mediator highlights a growing reality: resolving the crisis in eastern DRC requires closer coordination between African actors and international partners. In this context, Lomé is positioning itself as a diplomatic convergence point.
Togo seeks to build on its role
During the meeting, the UN representatives commended Togo’s dedication to peace and stability across Africa. They also reiterated their readiness to back the efforts led by Faure Gnassingbé toward a sustainable and balanced resolution of the crisis.
This stance confirms interest in the Togolese approach, which relies on regular consultations, diplomatic discretion, and consensus-building among stakeholders. For Lomé, the goal is now to turn this recognition into real influence over the Great Lakes dossier.
Coordination becomes imperative
Consultations between the African mediator and the United Nations are nothing new, but they have gained added weight amid persistent violence in eastern Congo. Both sides aim to maintain a concerted approach to prevent the fragmentation of peace efforts.
This dynamic responds to a simple imperative: multiplying initiatives is not enough if they are not aligned. By hosting these UN envoys, Faure Gnassingbé seeks to build a more coherent diplomatic structure that brings regional and international players together toward a common objective.
Lomé as a diplomatic platform
Monday’s meeting confirms Lomé’s emergence as a venue for dialogue on the Congolese crisis. Togo, which regularly hosts talks tied to the African Union mediation, aims to use this visibility as leverage in the pursuit of political solutions to regional conflicts.
The question now is whether this strengthened coordination between the African Union and the United Nations will yield concrete progress. In a long and complex crisis, the value of mediation lies in its ability to sustain the commitment of all parties and gradually improve the conditions for a lasting settlement.
