Diplomatic talks in Lomé address eastern DRC security challenges

Lomé, Togo — High-level diplomatic consultations unfolded in Lomé on Tuesday, as Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Council of Ministers and African Union mediator, met with Floribert Anzuluni, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Minister of Regional Integration.

The discussions centered on the escalating security crisis in eastern DRC, where persistent armed conflict has destabilized the region for decades. Key topics included regional cooperation strategies and mediation efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace in the Great Lakes region.

According to a statement from the Togolese Council of Ministers, Gnassingbé and Anzuluni explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Lomé and Kinshasa, while also evaluating ongoing initiatives to address the conflict’s root causes. The meeting highlighted the need for unified diplomatic action to achieve sustainable stability in the region.

“Floribert Anzuluni expressed gratitude to President Gnassingbé for his pivotal role in resolving the conflict in the Great Lakes region,” the statement noted. “As the African Union’s designated mediator, President Gnassingbé continues to engage with stakeholders to advance peaceful solutions.”

Before arriving in Lomé, Anzuluni had visited Uganda, where he delivered a message from DRC President Félix Tshisekedi to Yoweri Museveni. These diplomatic engagements follow a period of intensified hostilities in eastern DRC, where the M23 rebel group—allegedly supported by neighboring states—has expanded its territorial control in North Kivu and South Kivu.

The talks in Lomé took place amid heightened regional diplomacy, including consultations between DRC and Angola on bilateral cooperation and regional security. Earlier this month, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, in his capacity as African Union chair, held discussions with religious leaders and opposition figures in DRC to promote reconciliation.

Additional diplomatic momentum included Félix Tshisekedi’s recent visit to Brazzaville for talks with Congo-Brazzaville’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso, followed by Nguesso’s meeting with Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo to address DRC’s political challenges.

The meeting in Lomé followed a technical review session in early June, where Gnassingbé underscored the importance of aligning mediation efforts under the African Union’s framework. He emphasized that coordinated action among regional and international actors is essential to consolidate peace and security in eastern DRC.

These initiatives build on previous high-level gatherings in Lomé, including a January summit that convened former heads of state, regional organizations like the East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC), and international partners to strengthen trust and advance dialogue.

As the conflict persists, the diplomatic push reflects a broader commitment to resolving one of Africa’s most protracted crises through sustained regional collaboration.