Togo’s President and African Union mediator Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé hosted Floribert Anzuluni, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Regional Integration, in Lomé on Tuesday, July 14. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Kinshasa and Lomé while addressing security challenges in eastern DRC and advancing mediation initiatives to restore lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.

According to official sources, Anzuluni expressed gratitude for Gnassingbé’s personal commitment to resolving the long-standing conflict plaguing the Great Lakes region. As the African Union’s designated mediator for the DRC crisis, Gnassingbé continues consultations with key stakeholders to facilitate a peaceful resolution.

« The Congolese government representative commended Faure Gnassingbé’s dedication to finding a sustainable solution to the Great Lakes crisis. As the AU mediator, he is leading efforts to coordinate peace initiatives and ensure all parties remain engaged in constructive dialogue, » stated the Togolese presidency.

Prior to his Togolese visit, Anzuluni traveled to Uganda to deliver a message from President Félix Tshisekedi to Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni. These diplomatic exchanges occur against a backdrop of ongoing hostilities in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebellion—allegedly supported by Rwanda according to Kinshasa and international observers—continues its offensive against government forces. The group maintains control over significant portions of North Kivu and South Kivu provinces while diplomatic efforts in Washington and Doha struggle to yield tangible progress.

These discussions also coincide with national debates in DRC regarding potential constitutional changes ahead of the 2026 elections, as President Tshisekedi approaches the end of his second term.

The meetings follow a period of intense diplomatic activity in the region. Kinshasa and Luanda have maintained regular exchanges on bilateral issues and regional security concerns, building on recent consultations by Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye with religious leaders and opposition figures in DRC.

Another significant diplomatic development involved President Tshisekedi’s recent visit to Brazzaville for talks with Congolese counterpart Denis Sassou Nguesso, following President Ndayishimiye’s state visit to Kinshasa. Days later, Sassou Nguesso hosted Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo to discuss DRC’s political and institutional situation.

Anzuluni’s arrival in Lomé comes weeks after the June 7-8 technical session of the AU’s semi-annual peace process evaluation meeting in Lomé, led by Gnassingbé. During that gathering, the Togolese leader emphasized the need for greater coherence and coordination among regional mediation mechanisms working to resolve the DRC crisis. He stressed the importance of sustained collective action to achieve stability, peace, and security in eastern DRC.

According to the AU mediator, only coordinated action among regional, continental, and international actors can consolidate progress and establish durable peace in the Great Lakes region.

This evaluation session followed a high-level meeting in Lomé on January 16-17 focused on strengthening peace process coherence. Initiated by Gnassingbé, these meetings bring together former heads of state, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, representatives from the East African Community and SADC, and international partners. The goal is to rebuild trust between parties, advance dialogue, and ensure compliance with commitments made by all actors involved in the peace process.

The current diplomatic push reflects ongoing efforts to address the complex security situation in eastern DRC, where armed groups continue to destabilize communities despite international mediation attempts.