Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé has been appointed as the African Union’s new mediator in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo conflict.
The Togolese foreign ministry confirmed the appointment on Sunday, following an official African Union statement shared by Foreign Minister Robert Dussey.
Gnassingbé replaces Angola’s President João Lourenço, who stepped down from the role last month after a lack of progress since his 2022 appointment.
The AU move comes amid renewed fighting between Congolese forces and the M23 rebel group, widely believed to be backed by Rwanda.
The M23 recently launched a rapid offensive, capturing significant territory in eastern Congo, an area rich in minerals and plagued by violence.
Dussey expressed gratitude for the AU’s trust, saying Gnassingbé would work toward “sustainable peace, reconciliation and stability” in the troubled Great Lakes region.
AU spokespersons confirmed the decision, signaling a renewed push to ease tensions between DR Congo and Rwanda.
Togolese Minister Gilbert Bawara described Gnassingbé as a “discreet and attentive leader” with a reputation for calm diplomacy.
Since 2021, repeated ceasefires have crumbled shortly after signing, leaving the region mired in instability and suffering.
Angola’s mediation efforts saw little success, but a glimmer of hope emerged when DR Congo and M23 representatives met in Qatar last month.
That same week, Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Félix Tshisekedi of DR Congo also held direct talks in Doha.
Now, with Togo stepping into a leadership role, the AU hopes fresh momentum will revive stalled negotiations and restore fragile peace.
