African mediation adopts roadmap for second half of 2026 in eastern DRC peace process
The president of the Council of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who serves as the African Union mediator for resolving the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region, chaired a meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026, in Lomé. This session was dedicated to the semi-annual evaluation of activities under the African mediation, set against a backdrop of diplomatic stalemate and ongoing hostilities between government forces and the Rwanda-backed AFC/M23 rebellion.
The gathering brought together members of the College of Facilitators appointed by the African Union, along with representatives from the United Nations, the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The two-day talks, held on June 7 and 8, 2026, aimed to assess progress made since the mediation architecture was established in Lomé on January 17, 2026. They also sought to define priorities for the second half of the year, in support of the Washington and Doha processes led by the United States and Qatar, respectively.
Strategic directions for the second half of 2026
According to the outcome statement from the Togolese presidency, the evaluation meeting adopted several strategic directions. These include strengthening internal coordination among the Mediator’s Office, the Panel of Facilitators, the African Union Commission, and the independent joint secretariat.
Participants also underscored the importance of structuring and making available an African contribution to the complementary Washington and Doha processes. This aims to enhance ownership, legitimacy, and implementation ease.
The meeting called on all states and organisations involved in mediation efforts to reinforce their cooperation in a spirit of solidarity, while respecting the responsibilities and mandates defined in the mediation architecture adopted in Lomé on January 17, 2026.
Immediate decisions
The meeting adopted several measures designed to boost the mediation process’s effectiveness. These include adjusting the work plans of Panel of Facilitators members for the second half of 2026 and developing, within fifteen days, an operational action plan specifying implementation modalities for the decisions reached.
“Driven by a renewed collective will and a spirit of shared responsibility, the participants committed to implementing the decisions of this meeting with diligence and consistency, to honouring the commitments made, and to working together for the advent of lasting peace in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region,” the Togolese presidency stated.
This new session follows the high-level meeting on coherence and consolidation of the peace process in the DRC, held on January 16 and 17 in Lomé, Togo. Initiated by Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, that meeting aimed to strengthen trust between parties, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments by various stakeholders.
The January gathering brought together a panel of facilitators comprising former heads of state, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives from the EAC and SADC, and several international partners. It was part of ongoing diplomatic efforts for stability in eastern DRC.
Following those talks, the African Union unveiled its mediation architecture for the peace process in eastern DRC. Under this structure, the mediation is led by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, designated AU mediator, supported by a Togolese mediation support team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidency.
Five co-facilitators, all former African heads of state, handle specific themes. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo oversees military and security matters. Former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde is in charge of humanitarian issues. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta supervises dialogue with local armed groups. Former Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi handles regional economic cooperation. Former Central African Republic Transition President Catherine Samba-Panza manages civil society, reconciliation, and gender issues.
The setup also includes an independent joint secretariat involving Togo, the African Union, the EAC, SADC, and the ICGLR. The AU Commission coordinates with international partners, including the United Nations, Qatar, the European Union, and the group of five permanent UN Security Council members.
