African mediation sets new directions for eastern DRC peace efforts
African mediation adopts new directions to bolster peace efforts in eastern DRC
The African Union’s mediation initiative for the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has concluded a pivotal meeting in Lomé, Togo, charting a strategic course for the second half of 2026. The gathering, led by Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé—designated AU mediator for the Great Lakes region—brought together key stakeholders to assess progress and strengthen coordination amid ongoing regional tensions.
The two-day session, held on June 7-8, evaluated the effectiveness of the mediation architecture established in Lomé on January 17, 2026. This framework was created to support parallel peace processes, including the Washington and Doha initiatives led by the United States and Qatar respectively.
Key strategic decisions for peace consolidation
Participants at the Lomé meeting adopted several critical orientations to enhance mediation effectiveness:
- Enhanced internal coordination: Strengthening collaboration between the Mediator’s Office, the Facilitators’ Panel, the AU Commission, and the Independent Joint Secretariat.
- Structured African contribution: Developing a coordinated African response to complement international mediation efforts, ensuring greater legitimacy and implementation capacity.
- Solidarity among stakeholders: Reinforcing cooperation among all involved parties while respecting their respective mandates within the established mediation architecture.
Immediate implementation measures
The meeting resulted in concrete actions to accelerate peace efforts:
- Adjustment of facilitators’ work plans for the second half of 2026
- Development of a 15-day operational action plan detailing implementation modalities