African mediation for eastern DRC sets second-half priorities and efficiency measures
- Sécurité
On Monday, June 8, 2026, in Lomé, Togo’s Council President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé — the African Union mediator for the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region — chaired a meeting dedicated to the half-year review of activities under the African mediation framework. This assessment took place amid a stalled diplomatic track and ongoing hostilities between government forces and the AFC/M23 rebellion, which is backed by Rwanda.
The gathering brought together members of the College of Facilitators appointed by the African Union, along with 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 June 7 and 8, 2026, the talks aimed to assess progress since the mediation architecture was established in Lomé on January 17, 2026, and to define priorities for the second half of the year. These efforts support the Washington and Doha processes, led respectively by the United States and Qatar.
Strategic directions for the second half of 2026
According to the Togolese Presidency’s summary, the evaluation meeting adopted several directions, including strengthening internal coordination among the Mediator’s Office, the Panel of Facilitators, the African Union Commission, and the independent joint secretariat.
Stakeholders also stressed the importance of structuring and providing an African contribution to the complementary Washington and Doha processes, to increase ownership, legitimacy, and facilitate implementation.
Participants further called on all states and organizations involved in mediation efforts to strengthen cooperation in a spirit of solidarity, while respecting the responsibilities and mandates outlined in the mediation architecture adopted in Lomé on January 17, 2026.
Immediate decisions
The meeting adopted several measures to boost the mediation process’s effectiveness, including adjusting the work plans of Panel of Facilitators members for the second half of 2026 and drafting, within fifteen days, an operational action plan detailing how the decisions will be implemented.
“Driven by renewed collective will and a spirit of shared responsibility, participants committed to diligently and coherently implementing the meeting’s decisions, honoring their commitments, and working together for lasting peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region,” the Togolese Presidency stated.
This latest meeting follows the high-level gathering on coherence and consolidation of the peace process in the DRC, held January 16–17 in Lomé, Togo. That meeting, initiated by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé — Togo’s Council of Ministers President and the AU’s lead mediator for eastern DRC — aimed to build trust between parties, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments made by various actors in the peace process.
The initiative gathered a panel of facilitators composed of former heads of state, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives from the EAC and SADC, and several international partners. It was part of broader diplomatic efforts in recent months aimed at stability in eastern DRC.
After those talks, the African Union unveiled its mediation framework for the peace process in eastern DRC. Under this structure, the mediation is led by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, designated AU mediator. He is supported by a Togolese mediation support team comprising the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidency.
According to the same document, five co-facilitators — all former African heads of state — handle specific thematic areas. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo oversees military and security issues. Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde is responsible for humanitarian affairs. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta supervises dialogue with local armed groups. Former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi deals with regional economic cooperation, and former Central African Republic transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza leads files related to civil society, reconciliation, and gender.
The framework also includes an independent joint secretariat involving Togo, the African Union, the EAC, SADC, and the ICGLR. The African Union Commission coordinates with international partners, including the United Nations, Qatar, the European Union, and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the document stated.
