Regional mediators assess Congo crisis in Lomé talks

Lomé has become the focal point for diplomatic efforts as regional mediators convened on June 7-8 to address the deepening crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Delegates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) joined representatives of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN). The central aim was to assess the alignment of diplomatic pathways and gauge the remaining gap between conflicting parties toward a lasting resolution.

Togo’s pivotal role in unifying fragmented peace efforts

The selection of Lomé as the meeting venue reflects deliberate strategic intent. Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbé, serving as the AU’s facilitator for the Congolese dossier, has been working to consolidate overlapping mediation tracks that have proliferated without always converging. The Nairobi process, led by the EAC, and the Luanda initiative, historically driven by Angolan mediation under João Lourenço, have advanced independently. Although their gradual merger began in 2024, tangible results on the ground remain elusive.

Diplomatic observers in Lomé acknowledged that coordination remains the weakest link in the peacebuilding chain. Participants emphasized the urgency of streamlining dialogue channels to prevent parties from exploiting divisions between mediators. This fragmentation has historically emboldened armed groups, particularly the March 23 Movement (M23), whose military advances in North Kivu and South Kivu have reshaped regional security dynamics.

Diplomatic deadlock persists amid Kinshasa, Kigali, and M23 tensions

Progress reported during the Lomé gathering falls short of expectations. Direct talks between Kinshasa and the M23, once rejected by Congolese authorities, have finally materialized under sustained pressure from regional mediators and international partners. Meanwhile, the sensitive bilateral dimension between the DRC and Rwanda—accused by multiple observers of backing the rebel group—remains the thorniest obstacle to resolution.

Mediators highlighted the persistent failure to implement prior commitments, including the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese soil and the disarmament of armed factions. The SADC’s deployment in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which suffered heavy losses in early 2025, underscored the limitations of military-led solutions in a conflict driven by economic, land, and identity grievances far beyond traditional security frameworks.

A war economy fueled by mineral exploitation hinders peace

Beyond political deadlock, attendees stressed the need to dismantle illicit mineral trade networks in the Kivu provinces. Coltan, tin, gold, and tungsten feed a war economy whose tentacles extend into global supply chains. Several mediators called for a regional traceability mechanism, viewing it as essential to any sustainable de-escalation.

The Lomé meeting yielded no headline-making announcements but reaffirmed the principle of an integrated approach. Future steps are expected to involve Congolese civil society more closely—long sidelined in processes dominated by heads of state and foreign ministries. Civil society leaders and customary authorities from North and South Kivu are now seen as critical partners in translating any potential agreement into ground-level reality.

With no firm timeline for a comprehensive accord, the next few weeks will determine whether the momentum from Lomé can shift the trajectory of a conflict that has defied regional peace architectures for over three decades.