Newly appointed African Union (AU) mediator and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé arrived in Luanda on Wednesday to meet with Angolan President João Lourenço, as part of renewed efforts to resolve the protracted conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The visit marks Gnassingbé’s first official engagement since assuming the AU mediation role, following President Lourenço’s decision to step down to focus on his broader duties as AU chairperson. The two leaders are expected to coordinate strategies to revive stalled peace efforts and consolidate regional support for dialogue between the DRC government and armed groups operating in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
Eastern DRC has witnessed escalating violence involving the M23 rebel group and other militias, despite multiple ceasefire agreements and regional military deployments. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with over 7 million people internally displaced, according to the United Nations. Gnassingbé’s appointment signals the AU’s intent to revitalize diplomatic efforts amid growing international pressure to end the conflict. The Luanda meeting aims to align AU-led initiatives with ongoing efforts by the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), both of which have deployed troops in eastern Congo.
Analysts see Gnassingbé’s involvement as an opportunity to inject fresh momentum into negotiations, particularly as tensions rise between DRC and Rwanda over alleged support for rebel forces. The outcome of the Luanda talks is expected to shape the next phase of the AU’s mediation roadmap and influence upcoming regional summits focused on security in the Great Lakes region.
