The head of Togo’s Council of Ministers and African Union mediator for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)-Rwanda conflict, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, met in Pya on July 14 with Floribert Anzuluni, the DRC’s minister of Regional Integration, during a diplomatic mission to Lomé.
regional security and mediation priorities
The discussions centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Togo and the DRC while addressing persistent security challenges in eastern DRC. The talks also highlighted ongoing mediation efforts led by Gnassingbé, who serves as the African Union’s designated envoy for resolving the crisis in the Great Lakes region.
« The Congolese envoy expressed gratitude for the Togolese leader’s leadership in pursuing a sustainable solution to the conflict that has destabilized the region for decades. As the African Union’s mediator, Faure Gnassingbé continues to engage with stakeholders to facilitate a peaceful resolution. »
escalating tensions and diplomatic momentum
Anzuluni’s visit followed a recent stop in Uganda, where he delivered a message from DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni. The meetings occur amid intensified fighting in North Kivu and South Kivu, where the M23 rebellion, accused by Kinshasa of receiving Rwandan support, continues to expand its territorial control despite international diplomatic efforts in Washington and Doha.
Domestically, the talks take place against a backdrop of political debate in the DRC regarding potential constitutional changes, with Tshisekedi’s second term nearing its end in 2028.
regional coordination and peace initiatives
Recent weeks have seen a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region. Kinshasa and Luanda have maintained high-level exchanges on bilateral relations and regional peace and security. Earlier this month, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, in his capacity as AU chair, consulted with religious leaders and opposition figures in the DRC to advance reconciliation efforts.
Additional diplomatic engagements included a state visit by Tshisekedi to Brazzaville for talks with Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso, following Ndayishimiye’s own visit to Kinshasa. Sassou Nguesso later hosted Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo to discuss political and institutional developments in the DRC.
Lomé’s role in peacebuilding
Gnassingbé’s leadership in convening a technical review session of the peace process in early June underscored the need for greater coherence among regional and international mediation efforts. The meeting emphasized sustained collective action to restore stability, security, and peace in eastern DRC.
This initiative followed a high-level gathering in January, also in Lomé, which brought together former heads of state, regional organizations like the East African Community and SADC, and international partners. The goal was to foster trust, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with peace commitments among all parties involved.
The African Union mediator stressed that only coordinated action by regional, continental, and global actors can consolidate progress and pave the way for lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.