In a renewed push for peace across Africa, the African Union’s Panel of Facilitators and its appointed Mediator have underlined the urgent need for dialogue, collaboration, and sustained diplomatic engagement among warring parties on the continent.
Meeting in Lomé, Togo, on Saturday, the high-level gathering brought together AU Mediator Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and prominent former African leaders serving on the Panel Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), and Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia).
The convening, held under the banner of the African Union, focused on deepening ongoing peacebuilding initiatives, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the surrounding region. The Panel welcomed recent signals of willingness from key actors to resolve tensions through peaceful means and emphasized the need to build on this momentum.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, the Panel reaffirmed its commitment to supporting political solutions and long-term stability. The members also extended gratitude to President Gnassingbé for what they described as steadfast leadership in navigating complex peace processes across the continent.
The meeting reflects the AU’s broader efforts to strengthen African-led solutions to conflict, with the Panel calling on all stakeholders to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
