LOMÉ, Togo — In a significant step toward consolidating fragmented diplomatic efforts, African and international leaders concluded a two-day high-level meeting in Lomé on January 17-18, 2026, agreeing to strengthen and unify mediation initiatives aimed at ending the protracted conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The gathering, chaired by Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé in his capacity as the African Union (AU)-designated mediator for the Great Lakes crisis, formally endorsed the central role of the AU-mandated mediation process led by Togo.
The meeting brought together senior diplomats, former heads of state serving on the AU Panel of Facilitators—including Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), and Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic)—as well as representatives from regional organizations such as the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Preparatory sessions on January 16 highlighted Africa's commitment to "African solutions to African problems," with AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf praising Gnassingbé's leadership in fostering Pan-African unity.
Participants emphasized the urgent need for greater coherence, harmonization, and coordination among the various African, regional, and international peace initiatives. The final communiqué warned that fragmentation risks undermining stability in the eastern DRC, where violence has persisted for decades, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions. To address this, the meeting endorsed a revised mediation architecture, including the establishment of an Independent Joint Secretariat to support the AU Panel of Facilitators. This secretariat, coordinated by the AU Commission in collaboration with EAC and SADC, aims to streamline efforts and enhance continental oversight.
A key focus was the reaffirmation of support for the Doha process, involving direct negotiations between the Congolese government and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/M23) armed group. Leaders urged both parties to resume talks without delay and conclude negotiations on the remaining six protocols of the comprehensive peace framework agreed upon in 2025. The Doha track, facilitated by Qatar with U.S. support, built on earlier milestones: the July 19, 2025, Declaration of Principles, which outlined commitments to ceasefire, safe return of displaced persons, and inclusive dialogue; and the November 15, 2025, Doha Framework Agreement for a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, hailed by the AU as a landmark toward sustainable stability.
The Lomé discussions also welcomed recent diplomatic breakthroughs that have shaped the peace landscape in 2025. These include a series of U.S.-brokered agreements between the DRC and Rwanda, beginning with the Declaration of Principles signed in Washington on April 25, 2025, followed by the formal Peace Agreement on June 27, 2025, and culminating in the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity signed by Presidents Félix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame on December 4, 2025. These accords, hosted by the United States, addressed mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, neutralization of threats like the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), and economic cooperation in critical minerals. The Paris Conference in Support of Peace and Prosperity in the Great Lakes Region, held in October 2025, was cited as instrumental in mobilizing broader international backing.
Despite these advances, implementation has faced challenges. The eastern DRC remains volatile, with ongoing clashes despite the Washington agreements. The M23 rebel group, widely accused by Kinshasa, the United Nations, and others of receiving Rwandan support—a charge Kigali denies—seized significant territory in early 2025, including the provincial capitals of Goma (late January) and Bukavu (mid-February). These captures marked a dramatic escalation, displacing hundreds of thousands, disrupting humanitarian access, and raising fears of regional spillover involving neighboring countries like Burundi and Uganda.
The Lomé communiqué stressed the prioritization of political solutions over military confrontation, calling for accelerated good-faith implementation of existing commitments. President Gnassingbé, reflecting on the outcomes, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The meeting reinforced the coherence of mediation initiatives, examined the overall roadmap of the peace process and better articulated the efforts of the different facilitators. Only a concerted and durable political solution will restore peace, security and stability for the benefit of the populations of the Great Lakes region.”
The gathering concluded with the adoption of a unified mediation framework document and a coordinated action plan, alongside renewed commitments to structured African follow-up mechanisms. These steps build on prior AU decisions, including the merger of EAC-SADC and AU structures into a single mechanism as endorsed in August 2025, and the activation of joint secretariats to bolster continental leadership.
The conflict in eastern DRC, rooted in historical grievances, resource competition, and cross-border security concerns, has defied resolution for over two decades. The resurgence of M23 in 2022, its merger with the AFC, and the 2025 offensives have exacerbated one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions displaced and widespread reports of atrocities. The AU's push for unified mediation signals a determination to reclaim ownership of the process, aligning parallel tracks like Nairobi, Luanda, Doha, and Washington under African coordination.
While optimism surrounds the Lomé consensus, success hinges on genuine compliance by all parties, including withdrawal of foreign forces, cessation of hostilities, and inclusive dialogue addressing root causes. The coming months will test whether this renewed African-led momentum can translate into tangible de-escalation and lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.
