Despite repeated agreements that have yet to end the explosive crisis in eastern DRC, Lomé is asserting itself as the new pivot of African diplomacy by welcoming as early as Thursday January 15 the arrival of the president of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and the prestigious panel of facilitators for a two-day summit on January 16 and 17 under the auspices of Faure Gnassingbé, mediator designated by the AU. The main objective is to harmonize the dispersed processes of Luanda, Nairobi and beyond and to restart a coherent and effective regional dialogue in the face of persistent instability.

The Togolese capital confirms its growing role as a pan-African diplomatic pivot. A two-day high-level summit, organized under the auspices of the African Union (#AU) and piloted by His Excellency Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, mediator designated by the AU for the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (#DRC), is being held today Friday January 16 and tomorrow Saturday January 17, 2026 at the Lomé Congress Palace.

Members of the African Union delegation, including the president of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, arrived in Lomé on Thursday January 15. They were welcomed at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport by the Togolese Foreign Minister, Professor Robert Dussey.

At the Presidential Palace, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf was received by Faure Gnassingbé for in-depth consultations on the progress of African efforts to restore peace, security and stability in eastern Congo.

This meeting brings together a panel of eminent former heads of state mandated by the AU to support mediation through high-level engagement, confidence building and regional coordination:

• Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria
• Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Kenya
• Sahle-Work Zewde, former president of Ethiopia
• Mokgweetsi Masisi, former president of Botswana
• Catherine Samba-Panza, former president of the Central African Republic (#CAR)

On the agenda for these two days:

• Clarify the roles of multiple mediations (Luanda process, Nairobi, AU mechanism, Doha and Washington initiatives)
• Strengthen coordination between regional organizations (EAC, SADC, ICGLR) and the African Union
• Foster confidence among stakeholders
• Accelerate the implementation of commitments made, including ceasefires and bilateral agreements

This initiative is part of an intense diplomatic dynamic since the beginning of 2026, marked by a visit by Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi to Lomé on January 12 for bilateral consultations with Faure Gnassingbé, followed by exchanges in Luanda.

Prosper Aobe