The African mediation initiative for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s eastern region has taken a decisive turn with the adoption of fresh strategic directions during a high-level meeting in Lomé. This gathering, held on June 7-8, 2026, brought together key regional stakeholders under the leadership of Togo’s President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who serves as the African Union’s mediator for the Great Lakes region.

Reinforced coordination for enhanced effectiveness

The two-day consultation focused on evaluating progress since the January 17, 2026 Lomé framework was established, particularly in relation to complementary peace processes led by Washington and Doha. Participants included representatives from the African Union, United Nations, East African Community (EAC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), Southern African Development Community (SADC), International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The meeting produced several critical decisions, including:

• Strengthened internal coordination between the Mediation Office, Facilitators’ Panel, African Union Commission, and independent joint secretariat
• Development of a unified African contribution to the Washington and Doha processes to enhance ownership and implementation
• Call for all engaged states and organizations to intensify cooperation while respecting defined mandates within the Lomé architecture

Immediate action plan established

Key operational measures adopted include:

• Revised work plans for Facilitators’ Panel members for H2 2026
• Deadline of 15 days to finalize an operational action plan detailing implementation modalities
• Renewed collective commitment to diligent implementation of all decisions

The mediation framework, established in January, features a distinguished team of five co-facilitators:

• Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) – military and security affairs
• Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia) – humanitarian issues
• Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) – dialogue with local armed groups
• Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana) – regional economic cooperation
• Catherine Samba-Panza (CAR) – civil society, reconciliation and gender issues

This comprehensive approach aims to address the complex security challenges in eastern DRC, where government forces continue to face the M23 rebellion, reportedly supported by Rwanda. The renewed commitment to peace follows previous high-level consultations in Lomé that brought together former heads of state, regional organizations, and international partners to rebuild trust and advance dialogue among all involved parties.