Under the impetus of President of the Council Faure Gnassingbé, Togo has established itself as an indispensable mediation platform for several African crises. From the Sahel to the Great Lakes region, through Guinea-Bissau, Lomé has become a place of dialogue and consultation where misunderstandings are transformed into lasting solutions.
AU mediator for the DRC and Great lakes crisis
Appointed mediator of the African Union for the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region in April 2025, Faure Gnassingbé has led a sustained and inclusive diplomatic offensive.
He hosted high-level meetings in Lomé between Kinshasa and Kigali, consolidating the centrality of African mediation in conflict resolution.
A bridge between the AES and ECOWAS
In the Sahel, Togo also plays a bridging role between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In April 2026, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot visited Lomé to commend Togo’s mediator role between these two blocs, highlighting the trust that Faure Gnassingbé inspires among his peers.
A discreet, pragmatic, and trust-based diplomacy
Togolese diplomacy is characterized by a discreet, pragmatic, and trust-based approach. Faure Gnassingbé prioritizes direct dialogue, bilateral consultations, and multilateral initiatives to create a climate conducive to peace. This method has helped ease tensions between Mali and Côte d’Ivoire and facilitated the return to constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau.
Contributions to UN Peacekeeping operations
Furthermore, Togo actively contributes to United Nations peacekeeping operations, with contingents deployed in Mali, the Central African Republic, and Darfur. These commitments strengthen the country’s credibility as an actor of regional stability.
A Respected peacemaker – transforming crises into reconciliation opportunities
Through his diplomatic expertise and his commitment to serving the collective African interest, Faure Gnassingbé has made Togo a respected peacemaker. Where misunderstandings once prevailed, he has succeeded in establishing dialogue, proving that African diplomacy, when conducted with conviction, can transform crises into opportunities for reconciliation.
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