Senior African diplomats and former heads of state have arrived in Lomé, Togo, to participate in a high-level meeting aimed at strengthening the coherence and consolidation of peace processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the wider Great Lakes region.
Among the prominent figures attending the meeting are Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi, and former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza.
The meeting, scheduled for this Saturday, January 17, 2026, will be chaired by Togolese President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé in his capacity as the African Union’s designated principal mediator for eastern DRC.
Diplomatic sources say the talks will focus on aligning various regional and international peace initiatives, improving coordination among mediators, and reinforcing political dialogue mechanisms to address persistent insecurity in eastern Congo.
The discussions are also expected to explore ways to strengthen confidence between the DRC and its neighbors, improve ceasefire monitoring, and ensure that peace agreements translate into tangible stability on the ground.
Eastern DRC has endured decades of conflict involving armed groups, regional tensions, and recurring humanitarian crises that have displaced millions.
Recent efforts by the African Union, the East African Community, and the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region have sought to harmonize multiple mediation tracks.
Observers say the presence of several former heads of state, many of whom have previously served as mediators or facilitators in African peace processes, underscores the political weight of the Lomé meeting.
Their collective experience is expected to help bridge gaps between competing initiatives and encourage stronger commitment from all parties.
The outcome of the Lomé talks is expected to shape the next phase of diplomatic engagement in the DRC, with a renewed emphasis on African-led solutions, regional ownership, and sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region.
