Eastern DRC peace push enters decisive phase as Tshisekedi sends fresh message to Gnassingbé
A decisive push to break the deadlock in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unfolded this week, as President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo sent a high-level envoy to Togo with a written message for President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the African Union mediator for the crisis. The move signals a turning point in efforts to accelerate a peace process that has struggled to gain traction for months.
On Tuesday, 29 September, in Lomé, Gnassingbé received Floribert Anzuluni, the DRC’s Minister of Regional Integration, who carried the special communication from Kinshasa. Anzuluni stated that the delegation had been dispatched to deliver a special message from the Congolese President regarding the peace process in eastern DRC, a file in which Gnassingbé is deeply involved as the African Union mediator.
Kinshasa briefs mediator on demobilisation progress
During the audience, the Congolese envoys provided an update on the strides made by the DRC authorities in demobilising armed movements, a critical component aimed at consolidating peace in the restive eastern region. The area has witnessed fresh bouts of instability and renewed war drums since late 2021, underscoring the urgency of the mediation efforts.
Gnassingbé has been leading the African Union mediation mission since April 2025, taking over from Angolan mediators, with a mandate to resolve the security crisis in eastern DRC and the broader Great Lakes region.
Major hurdles remain despite multiple peace tracks
Securing a lasting ceasefire and achieving long-term stabilisation in the Great Lakes region remain the foremost challenges for peacemakers. These objectives persist even as parallel diplomatic tracks advance, including the Doha process under Qatari mediation and the Washington talks facilitated by the United States.