Significant progress has been made in structuring African mediation efforts to restore peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. This was highlighted during the technical session of the semi-annual evaluation meeting held from June 7 to 8, 2026, in Lomé, at the initiative of Togo‘s Council President, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who serves as the African Union mediator for resolving the crisis in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.

Following the ministerial phase led by Togo‘s Minister for Cooperation and Togolese Abroad, Yackoley Johnson, President Gnassingbé presided over a meeting on June 8 dedicated to the semi-annual evaluation of activities carried out under African mediation.

The diplomatic gathering brought together the African Union-appointed facilitators, alongside representatives from the United Nations, the East African Community, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Southern African Development Community, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

According to the Togolese Presidency, Faure Gnassingbé welcomed the presence of facilitators, regional organizations, and international partners, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to peace, stability, and development in the Great Lakes region.

The AU mediator particularly praised the progress achieved since the Lomé meeting dedicated to aligning and consolidating peace initiatives in DRC and the Great Lakes. He described these advances as a crucial step toward better coordination of diplomatic and political efforts for a sustainable solution to the crisis affecting eastern DRC.

“Since January, we have brought greater order to the architecture of African mediation. I am convinced this meeting marks a significant milestone in improving our collective action and advancing durable solutions to this crisis,” the AU mediator stated.

Mr. Gnassingbé stressed the need for continued efforts to further strengthen coherence, complementarity, and coordination among the various mediation mechanisms engaged in the peace process across the region. He underscored the importance of maintaining a unified and sustained mobilization for stability, peace, and security in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

He emphasized that only concerted action by regional, continental, and international actors can consolidate the progress made and foster lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.

“We will continue this mission with humility, determination, and perseverance. Despite challenges, we also see many goodwill efforts ready to support our pursuit of peace,” he added.

This latest meeting follows the high-level gathering on aligning and consolidating the peace process in Democratic Republic of Congo, held on January 16 and 17 in Lomé, Togo. Initiated by Faure Gnassingbé, Togo‘s Council of Ministers President and the AU’s designated lead mediator for eastern DRC, the meeting aimed to build trust among parties, advance dialogue, and ensure adherence to commitments made by all stakeholders involved in the peace process.

This initiative, which brought together a panel of facilitators including former heads of state, Togo‘s Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives from the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as several international partners, followed months of diplomatic efforts to stabilize eastern DRC.

At the conclusion of these meetings, the African Union unveiled the structure of its mediation architecture for the peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. According to a document reviewed by our team, mediation is led by Togo‘s President Faure Gnassingbé, who serves as the AU mediator. He is supported by a mediation support team comprising Togo‘s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency.

The framework also includes five co-facilitators, all former African heads of state, each assigned specific thematic responsibilities. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo oversees military and security issues. Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde handles humanitarian concerns. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta supervises dialogue with local armed groups. Former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi addresses regional economic cooperation, while former Central African Republic transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza leads civil society, reconciliation, and gender-related matters.

The structure also features an independent joint secretariat involving Togo, the African Union, the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (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.