Qatar Backs Togo’s Initiative to Consolidate Peace Process in Eastern DRC

Lomé, January 18, 2026 - The State of Qatar, a key mediator in the crisis between the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the AFC/M23 rebellion, has reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process, viewing Togo’s diplomatic initiative as proof of sustained momentum toward stability in the Great Lakes region. Qatar took part in a high-level meeting on the coherence and consolidation of peace efforts in the DRC and the wider region, held in Lomé, the capital of Togo. The country was represented by Ahmed Essa Al Sulaiti, advisor to the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused on the humanitarian crisis, regional security coordination, de-escalation mechanisms, support for humanitarian operations, and the promotion of economic integration. The meeting followed the signing of the Doha Peace Framework between the Congolese government and the Congo River Alliance (M23 Movement), underscoring continued diplomatic engagement despite the lack of immediate breakthroughs. Although no new peace initiatives were announced, participants agreed to strengthen African mediation in 2026, relying on five former African heads of state as co-facilitators. Diplomatic missions are planned in the coming days to Kinshasa, Kigali, Kampala, and Gitega to accelerate the implementation of commitments made by the parties. The final communiqué urged all sides to implement their commitments in good faith, prioritize peaceful conflict resolution, and reaffirmed full support for the Doha process. It also called for the rapid resumption of negotiations on the six remaining protocols and emphasized the need for structured African monitoring of the peace agreements. With the 39th African Union Summit scheduled for February 11-15, 2026, in Addis Ababa, the Togolese mediator for eastern DRC, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, is expected to present a report on the evolving security situation and mediation progress, in line with recent African Union Peace and Security Council decisions. This diplomatic push comes as the Doha talks, led by the Emir of Qatar, continue to face challenges in translating negotiations into concrete results on the ground. The talks aim to complement the Washington agreements by addressing the root causes of the conflict, including the restoration of state authority and the reintegration of armed groups, but progress remains slow despite the signing of five key instruments.