The African Union (AU) has formally endorsed Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé as the new mediator in the ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the M23 rebel group, ahead of their first direct peace talks scheduled to begin on April 9 in Doha, Qatar.
Gnassingbé replaces Angola’s President João Lourenço, who has stepped down from the mediation role to focus on his duties as the current chairperson of the African Union. Lourenço, who has led previous mediation efforts under the Luanda Process, said the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo demanded renewed leadership and momentum.
The endorsement comes amid heightened tensions and a worsening humanitarian situation in eastern DRC. Since launching a renewed offensive in January 2025, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels have seized several key territories, including Goma and Butembo — the largest cities in North Kivu province. The rapid advances have displaced more than 500,000 people and reportedly led to the deaths of several thousand civilians, according to UN estimates and rights organizations.
Aid agencies say the conflict has made access to food, water, and shelter nearly impossible for many civilians trapped in combat zones, and they warn of a deepening humanitarian catastrophe if fighting continues. In what analysts see as a significant gesture ahead of negotiations, M23 forces withdrew from the strategic mining town of Walikale earlier this week, claiming the move was in “good faith” to allow space for dialogue. The rebels reportedly pulled back without resistance and handed the town over to a neutral local force.
This follows unconfirmed reports that Congolese government officials and M23 representatives engaged in discreet, behind-the-scenes discussions in the Qatari capital last week, laying the groundwork for next week’s formal peace talks. The upcoming meeting in Doha will be the first direct dialogue between Kinshasa and the M23 since the rebel group seized control of key areas in North Kivu. Until recently, the Congolese government had refused to negotiate directly with the group, labeling it a proxy militia supported by neighboring Rwanda — a claim Kigali continues to deny despite mounting evidence from the United Nations and Western intelligence agencies.
The conflict has raised fears of a broader regional war, as tensions between Rwanda and the DRC continue to escalate. Both countries have traded accusations over cross-border attacks and interference in each other’s domestic affairs. The African Union’s decision to install President Gnassingbé as lead mediator is viewed as a move to streamline efforts amid concerns about overlapping peace initiatives. Some experts have cautioned that the AU mediation may clash or duplicate efforts already underway in Doha under Qatari and UN facilitation.
“The challenge now is ensuring coordination between the AU’s political track and the Qatar-led talks, which have already brought both parties to the table,” said Dr. Ndaya Mulamba, a regional analyst with the Institute for Security Studies. “But this also represents the most serious chance for peace in a decade.”
The March 23 Movement (M23) is a predominantly ethnic Tutsi rebel group that re-emerged in late 2021 after years of dormancy. It accuses the DRC government of failing to implement previous peace agreements, particularly those related to the integration of rebel fighters into the national army and the protection of minority communities.
With backing from what UN investigators describe as “direct Rwandan military support,” M23 has staged a series of offensives across eastern Congo, rapidly gaining ground in a region rich in mineral wealth but long plagued by instability and ethnic tensions.
As the Doha talks approach, all eyes will be on whether the newly appointed mediator, President Gnassingbé, can leverage his diplomatic ties and regional credibility to help broker a ceasefire and pave the way toward a durable peace.
