Lomé, the Togolese capital, recently hosted a pivotal gathering on June 7 and 8, 2026, dedicated to navigating the complex crisis in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Key representatives from the primary regional bodies actively engaged in mediation efforts were present, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC), and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (CIRGL). Emissaries from the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) also joined these critical discussions. The stated objective was clear: to critically assess the coherence of current diplomatic pathways and to gauge the remaining distance between warring factions and a sustainable resolution.
Lomé: a hub for fragmented peace initiatives
Togo’s selection as the meeting point was no coincidence. Faure Gnassingbé, designated by the African Union as the facilitator for the Congolese dossier, has been working for months to unify various parallel initiatives that, despite their proliferation, have not always aligned effectively. The Nairobi Process, spearheaded by the EAC, and the Luanda Process, operating under the AU’s umbrella and long championed by Angola’s João Lourenço, have often progressed in a disjointed manner. While efforts to merge these approaches began in 2024, they have yet to yield the anticipated tangible results on the ground.
Diplomats gathered in Lomé acknowledged that coordination remains the fundamental weakness in the broader peace endeavor. Several participants underscored the urgent need to streamline dialogue channels, a move designed to prevent involved parties from exploiting one mediation effort against another. This historical fragmentation has, for too long, benefited armed actors, most notably the March 23 Movement (M23), whose military advances in Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu have significantly altered the security landscape of the region.
A tense timeline between Kinshasa, Kigali, and the M23
The diplomatic progress discussed during the Togolese meeting was modest when measured against the high expectations. Direct negotiations between Kinshasa and the M23, initially resisted by Congolese authorities, eventually commenced under the combined pressure of regional mediators and international partners. Concurrently, the bilateral dimension involving the DRC and Rwanda, with the latter accused by the UN and several Western chancelleries of supporting the rebel movement, continues to represent the most sensitive political obstacle to overcome.
Mediators reiterated concerns that the implementation of previous commitments, specifically the withdrawal of foreign forces from Congolese territory and the cantonment of armed groups, is alarmingly behind schedule. The deployment of the SADC mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), which suffered significant human casualties in early 2025, starkly illustrated the limitations of regional military responses in confronting a conflict whose economic, land, and identity-based drivers extend far beyond conventional security concerns.
War economy complicates path to resolution
Beyond the political dimension, participants emphasized the critical urgency of disrupting the illicit exploitation networks for mineral resources in Kivu. Coltan, tin, gold, and tungsten fuel a pervasive war economy with ramifications that extend deep into international supply chains. Several mediators advocated for the establishment of a regional traceability mechanism, deeming it an indispensable condition for any sustainable de-escalation.
While the Lomé meeting did not culminate in spectacular declarations, it successfully reaffirmed the principle of an integrated approach. Future steps are expected to more closely involve Congolese civil society actors, who have often been marginalized from processes predominantly shaped by heads of state and diplomatic offices. Civil society organizations and customary authorities in Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu are now recognized as crucial conduits for embedding any potential agreement within the lived realities of these deeply affected territories.
Nevertheless, the mediators concluded their discussions in the Togolese capital without establishing a firm timeline for the signing of a comprehensive accord. The coming weeks will reveal whether the diplomatic momentum initiated in Lomé will be sufficient to alter the trajectory of a conflict that, for over three decades, has challenged every peace architecture built around the Great Lakes region.
