UN expresses confidence in Togo-led peace initiative for eastern DRC
- Sécurité
On Monday 8 June 2026, the United Nations Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and head of MONUSCO, James Swan, together with Huang Xia, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, met with Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Council and African Union mediator based in Lomé. The high-level talks focused on the progress of ongoing diplomatic efforts and the UN’s contribution to the mediation process led by the African Union, which aims to achieve a lasting settlement of the crisis in eastern DRC.
Both UN officials are in Lomé as part of the semi-annual assessment meeting of the African Union mediation for that conflict-affected region. Their visit underscores the UN’s continued commitment to peace and stability in eastern Congo and the wider Great Lakes area.
The UN representatives praised Togo’s dedication to fostering peace, stability, and peaceful conflict resolution across Africa. They expressed readiness to support the efforts of the AU-designated Mediator in pursuing an equitable and durable solution to the crisis shaking this part of the continent, according to the Togolese presidency.
Faure Gnassingbé, appointed AU mediator for eastern DRC after replacing Angolan President João Lourenço, has been intensifying consultations with the United Nations in recent months to promote a coordinated approach for peace in the Great Lakes region.
James Swan’s presence in Lomé carries particular weight. Having assumed his role nearly two months ago, this is his first participation in the semi-annual assessment of peace initiatives under the African mediation led by Togo.
The meeting occurs against a backdrop of continued deterioration in the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC, despite the existence of the Washington Agreement and successive evaluation meetings. The crisis persists even as multiple diplomatic initiatives have been launched.
Erosion of trust among parties and lack of political will from certain regional actors remain major obstacles to implementing commitments. These challenges also affect mediators, notably the United States and Qatar, who are called upon to persist in their efforts to resolve the current security crisis marked by the AFC/M23 rebellion, which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing.
Despite repeated calls from national, regional, and international voices for parties to honour their peace commitments, tangible results remain elusive. The gap between ground realities and diplomatic progress on paper continues to widen. Each side interprets the agreement’s provisions according to its own perspective, rendering implementation increasingly hypothetical. Similarly, the Doha process, sponsored by Qatar, has stalled after several rounds of talks. Kinshasa and the AFC/M23 rebels still disagree on key points. The Montreux (Switzerland) stage, intended to inject new momentum, failed to deliver expected outcomes. Commitments from that negotiation phase have not been fully honoured, while the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East has further relegated this dossier to the background, slowing mediation efforts.
