The meeting was held against the backdrop of diplomatic stalemate and ongoing fighting between government forces and Rwandan-backed Congolese Alliance for Reform (AFC)/M23 rebels. The event was attended by members of the African Union's College of Coordinators, as well as 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 purpose of the two-day meeting in June 2026 was to assess the progress made since the establishment of the Lomé Mediation Architecture on January 17, 2026, and to set priorities for the second half of the year in support of the Washington and Doha processes, respectively, led by the United States and Qatar.
According to a report by the Togolese President's administration, the meeting adopted a number of guidelines, including strengthening internal coordination between the Mediator's Office, the Coordinators' Group, the African Union Commission, and the Joint Independent Secretariat. The parties emphasized the importance of structuring and providing African contributions to the additional processes in Washington and Doha to enhance their legitimacy and facilitate implementation. The participants also called on all States and organizations involved in the mediation efforts to strengthen cooperation in a spirit of solidarity, while respecting the responsibilities and mandates defined in the mediation architecture adopted on 17 January 2026.
At the meeting, a number of measures were taken to improve the efficiency of the mediation process. In particular, these included adjustments to the work plans of the members of the group of coordinators for the second half of 2026, as well as the development of an operational action plan within 15 days to clarify the implementation of the decisions made. «Driven by collective will and a spirit of shared responsibility, the participants pledged to diligently and consistently implement the decisions of this meeting, adhere to their commitments, and work together to achieve a lasting peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region», said the administration of the President of Togo.
The initiative, put forward by Phor Essoszimna Gnassingbé, was aimed at building trust between the parties and promoting dialogue. The group of coordinators included former heads of state, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussé, representatives of the EAC and SADC, as well as international partners.
According to the documents, the mediation is led by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé, with the support of an escort team consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Togolese Presidential Administration. Five coordinators, all former African leaders, are responsible for specific areas: Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria) for military and security issues; Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia) for humanitarian issues; Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) for dialogue with local armed groups; Mokgwitsi Masisi (Botswana) for regional economic cooperation; and Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic) for civil society, reconciliation, and gender policy. A Joint Independent Secretariat was also established, bringing together Togo, the AU, theВАС, SADC, and the ICDO. The AU Commission ensures coordination with international partners, including the UN, Qatar, the EU, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council.
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