Faure Gnassingbé Travels to Kigali to Meet with Paul Kagame

Kigali Rwanda, January 30, 2026 - Rwandan President Paul Kagame received Togolese Prime Minister Faure Gnassingbé, the African Union (AU) chief mediator for the peace process in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Urugwiro Village, as part of ongoing diplomatic consultations on the Great Lakes crisis. The two heads of state held a private meeting before a broader session with the AU Panel of Facilitators, which includes former African heads of state: Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia), Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), and Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic). The discussions focused on the security situation in eastern DRC, the progress of ongoing diplomatic initiatives, and ways to strengthen coordination between regional and continental mediation efforts to promote peace, security, and stability in the Great Lakes region. “I thank President Paul Kagame for the quality of the discussions held today in Kigali. Our discussions focused primarily on the challenges of peace and stability in the Great Lakes region, particularly in eastern DRC, as well as on strengthening bilateral cooperation,” said Faure Gnassingbé. The presidency recalled that this situation was central to the high-level summit held in Lomé on January 16 and 17, 2026, dedicated to the coherence and consolidation of the peace process in the DRC and the region. “The President of the Council is continuing consultations to reach an African solution to this conflict, which is affecting the population,” the source added. The previous day, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi received a delegation from the AU Panel of Facilitators in Kinshasa, focusing on mediation efforts to end the violence in the east of the country. “We are on a tour. We will listen to one another and see what can be done for the well-being of the population, which has suffered greatly for decades,” said Sahle-Work Zewde. Félix Tshisekedi commended the facilitators’ efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to a lasting and verifiable peace in eastern DRC and the strengthening of regional stability, in line with commitments made by the parties. The delegation also included Yackoly Kokou Johnson, Togolese Minister Delegate, and Ambassador Akok Manyuat Madut, representing the African Union Commission. The facilitators will continue their regional tour in Bujumbura and Kampala. The African Union outlined the structure of its mediation for the peace process in eastern DRC following the Lomé meeting, placing Faure Gnassingbé in authority and supported by five co-facilitators, each responsible for a specific component, with a joint secretariat involving the AU and several regional organizations.