Tshisekedi sends written message to Gnassingbé on eastern DRC peace
Congolese president Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has sent a fresh written message to Togolese leader Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé concerning the peace process in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The message was delivered on Tuesday, 29 September in Lomé by Floribert Anzuluni, the DRC’s minister of regional integration, during an audience with the Togolese head of state.
Official delivery of the message in Lomé
Anzuluni confirmed that he and his delegation had been dispatched to the Togolese capital to hand over a special communication from the Congolese president. He stated: “We were sent to the President of the Council, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, to convey a special message from the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo” regarding “the peace process in eastern DRC”.
The message comes as Faure Gnassingbé continues his role as African Union mediator for the crisis in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region.
Briefing on demobilisation efforts
During the meeting, the Congolese envoys also provided the Togolese leader with an update on the progress made by Congolese authorities in “demobilising movements to allow for the consolidation of peace” in eastern DRC. The region has seen renewed sabre-rattling since late 2021.
Gnassingbé’s mediation mandate
Since April 2025, Gnassingbé has led an African Union mediation mission for resolving the security crisis in eastern DRC and the Great Lakes region, taking over from Angolan mediators.
Persistent challenges for peace
Achieving a lasting ceasefire and long-term stabilisation in the Great Lakes region remain the major challenges for peacemakers in eastern DRC, despite ongoing peace processes in Doha under Qatari mediation and in Washington under American mediation.