The African Union (AU) has officially appointed Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé as mediator in the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He succeeds Angolan President João Lourenço, who stepped down from his mandate last month.

The AU aims to revive diplomatic efforts. In the eastern regions of Congo, armed clashes continue, with ongoing tensions and a severe humanitarian crisis persisting unchecked. Gnassingbé's appointment comes at a difficult time. Distrust between the governments in Kinshasa and Kigali is growing. The DRC has long accused Rwanda of supporting the rebel movement "M23." Observers also believe that Rwanda has stationed its own soldiers in the resource-rich region, a claim the country continues to deny. In recent months, “M23” has succeeded in pushing back Congolese government troops and has captured cities such as Goma and Bukavu.

Previous attempts to resolve the conflict have failed. Although representatives of Congo met with “M23” officials in March under Qatari mediation, no agreement was reached. The AU appointed Gnassingbé due to his successful role in resolving political crises in West Africa, including negotiations in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso during disputes with ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States). However, the new task is a major one. For decades, a war has raged in eastern Congo, claiming at least 2 million lives and displacing hundreds of thousands—yet it receives little attention internationally. Numerous so-called rebel groups—essentially nothing more than brutal gangs of bandits, with “M23” being the most significant among them—are fighting for influence and access to the mineral wealth in the resource-rich region. A complex web of ethnic rivalries, financial and economic interests tied to precious minerals, foreign interference, and widespread distrust in Congolese institutions has created a diplomatic minefield that is nearly impossible to navigate.