Togo’s mediator meets DRC envoy to discuss Great Lakes security
The Togolese mediator and President of the Council of Ministers, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, held a crucial meeting in Pya, Kozah Prefecture, with Floribert Anzuluni, the DRC’s Minister of Regional Integration, on July 14, 2026. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Lomé and Kinshasa and addressing the persistent security challenges in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mediation efforts in the Great Lakes region
During the meeting, Floribert Anzuluni expressed gratitude to Faure Gnassingbé for his personal commitment to resolving the conflict in the Great Lakes region. As the designated mediator for the African Union in the DRC crisis, Faure Gnassingbé continues to engage with stakeholders to foster a peaceful resolution.
« The Congolese government remains committed to working with regional partners to restore peace and stability in the eastern DRC. The mediation efforts led by President Faure Gnassingbé are critical in achieving this goal, » stated Floribert Anzuluni.
Regional consultations and diplomatic initiatives
Prior to his visit to Lomé, Floribert Anzuluni traveled to Uganda to deliver a message from DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni. These diplomatic exchanges occur amid ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebellion, allegedly supported by Rwanda according to Kinshasa and international reports, continues its offensive against government forces.
The M23 controls significant portions of the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, consolidating its positions despite diplomatic efforts in Washington and Doha struggling to yield tangible results.
Broader regional engagements
The meeting in Lomé follows intense diplomatic consultations in the region. Kinshasa and Luanda have maintained regular exchanges on bilateral issues and regional peace and security. These efforts align with consultations led by Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the current African Union chair, with religious leaders and opposition figures in the DRC.
A notable diplomatic sequence involved DRC President Félix Tshisekedi‘s recent visit to Brazzaville to meet with Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso. This followed a state visit by Évariste Ndayishimiye to Kinshasa, during which Denis Sassou Nguesso later received Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo to discuss the political and institutional situation in the DRC.
Lomé’s role in peacebuilding
Faure Gnassingbé‘s involvement in the DRC crisis mediation underscores Togo’s strategic role in regional peace efforts. The June 7-8, 2026, technical session of the semi-annual peace process evaluation meeting in Lomé highlighted the need for enhanced coordination among mediation mechanisms in the Great Lakes region. The session emphasized the importance of collective mobilization to achieve stability, peace, and security in eastern DRC.
The January 16-17, 2026, high-level meeting in Lomé, initiated by Faure Gnassingbé, brought together former heads of state, the Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives of the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and international partners. The goal was to build trust, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments made by involved parties in the peace process.
Faure Gnassingbé reiterated that only concerted action by regional, continental, and international actors can consolidate progress and pave the way for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
