Togo’s prime minister and African Union mediator Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé met with Democratic Republic of Congo’s Regional Integration Minister Floribert Anzuluni in Lomé to address escalating security challenges in eastern DRC and regional peace efforts.

The high-level meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Kinshasa and Lomé while examining the persistent security threats in the mineral-rich eastern provinces. The discussions highlighted ongoing mediation initiatives to restore lasting peace in the Great Lakes region, which has faced nearly three decades of armed conflicts.

The Congolese envoy expressed appreciation for Gnassingbé’s personal commitment to resolving the regional crisis. As the designated African Union mediator for the DRC conflict, the Togolese leader continues consultations with key stakeholders to broker a sustainable peace agreement.

Anzuluni’s diplomatic mission comes after his previous stop in Uganda, where he delivered President Félix Tshisekedi’s message to President Yoweri Museveni. These diplomatic efforts unfold against a backdrop of intensified hostilities in North-Kivu and South-Kivu provinces, where the M23 rebel group maintains control over significant territories, allegedly receiving military support from Rwanda according to Kinshasa’s claims.

The meetings occur during a critical period of intense diplomatic activity in the region. Kinshasa and Luanda continue regular exchanges on bilateral issues and regional security concerns. These developments follow recent consultations by Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, the African Union’s current chair, with religious leaders and opposition figures in DRC.

Both leaders also addressed recent regional diplomatic developments, including Tshisekedi’s visit to Brazzaville and Ndayishimiye’s state visit to Kinshasa. Just days later, Congolese President Sassou Nguesso continued consultations by receiving Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo to discuss DRC’s political and institutional situation.

The Lomé meeting follows a technical session of the semi-annual peace process evaluation held in early June at the Togolese capital. During these proceedings, Gnassingbé emphasized the need for enhanced coherence and coordination among mediation mechanisms working toward peace in eastern DRC. He stressed that only concerted action by regional, continental and international actors could consolidate current peace efforts and establish lasting stability in the Great Lakes region.

These evaluation meetings came after a high-level gathering in January that brought together former heads of state, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives from the East African Community and Southern African Development Community, along with international partners. The initiative aimed to rebuild trust between parties, advance dialogue and ensure compliance with commitments made by all actors involved in the peace process.

As the African Union’s principal mediator for eastern DRC, Gnassingbé’s diplomatic leadership continues to shape regional peace efforts, focusing on coordinated approaches to end the protracted conflict that has plagued the mineral-rich region.