A high-level meeting on the crisis in eastern DR Congo is set to take place in Togo on Saturday, January 17, as African Union (AU)-led mediation efforts intensify to defuse tensions.

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The High-Level Meeting on the Coherence and Consolidation of the Peace Process in DR Congo and the Great Lakes Region is expected to bring together key facilitators appointed under the AU framework, namely former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta, of Kenya, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Sahle-Work Zewde pf Ethiopia, Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana and Catherine Samba-Panza of Central African Republic.

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Also in the Togolese capital is Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Rwanda will be represented by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe.

The Lome meeting follows the appointment of Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe as the new AU mediator in the crisis, particularly between Rwanda and DR Congo, in April 2025.

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Gnassingbe took over the role from Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who previously led regional efforts to de-escalate tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa before stepping down from the mediation after assuming his role as AU Chairperson in February 2025.

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The meeting on Saturday was preceded by a preparatory working session on Friday, which was attended by the forementioned officials as well as Secretary Generals of East African Community among other partners.