Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé is poised to become the African Union's (AU) new mediator in the ongoing crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Angolan President João Lourenço, the current AU Chairman, who was supposed to hold the position but withdrew, proposed Gnassingbé as his replacement. The proposal, already endorsed by the Assembly's Bureau during a virtual meeting on April 5, 2025, was welcomed by Gnassingbé. Now, it only needs to be ratified by the AU.

Togo's Foreign Affairs Minister, Robert Dussey, acknowledged the proposal, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that “President Gnassingbé is ready to contribute towards peace, reconciliation, and stability in the DRC”. 

Togo has a history of successful mediation in West Africa, notably facilitating the release of 49 Ivorian soldiers detained in Mali and helping to ease regional tensions related to the withdrawal of the Sahel States Alliance (AES) from ECOWAS.

This new role would not only enhance Togo's diplomatic standing but also consolidate its geopolitical position as a strategic hub in West Africa. However, Gnassingbé will face competition from other mediators, including Qatar, which has recently made significant diplomatic strides by facilitating meetings between key regional leaders, including Presidents Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Paul Kagame of Rwanda, as well as representatives of the Congolese government and the AFC/M23.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi (TogoFirst)

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho