The High-Level Harmonisation Meeting of the African Union (AU) Panel of Facilitators and the Independent Joint Secretariat (IJS) for the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Peace Process was held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 25 to 26 July 2026. The Panel of Facilitators, comprising H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo (Chair), former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, former President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, H. E. Sahle-Work Zewde (Deputy Chair), former President of the Republic of Botswana, H. E. Mokgweetsi E. Masisi, former President of the Republic of Kenya, H. E. Uhuru Kenyatta, and former President of Central African Republic, H. E. Catherine Samba-Panza, and Representative of AU Mediator deliberated on a Six-Month Roadmap and Operational Action Plan for the period July to December 2026, to advance AU-led peace process in eastern DRC.

The Roadmap will establish priority actions relating to the workstreams: coordination and strategic advisory support; political analysis; military and security issues; humanitarian access; dialogue with armed groups; regional economic cooperation and natural resources; and civil society, reconciliation, women and youth. The Roadmap provides a coordinated framework for the Panel of Facilitators and the IJS to support the AU Mediator's engagement with the parties, advance implementation of existing commitments, strengthen coordination with the Washington and Doha processes, and organize political, technical and field-level engagements. It provides for measurable implementation, regular reporting, joint analysis, field engagement, resource mobilization and coordination with regional and international partners.

The High-Level engagement was preceded, on 24 July 2026, by a technical preparatory meeting of the IJS organized by the African Union Commission and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, the East African Community (EAC), SADC, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the IJS, and AU Special representatives in the region, with the support of the Government of the Republic of Botswana and international partners.

H.E. Yackoley Kokou-Johnson, Representative of the AU Mediator, recalled the conclusions of the Lomé evaluation meeting and emphasized the need to strengthen the credibility of the mediation through concrete action. While calling for enhanced coordination, with the Washington and Doha processes, H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairperson of the AU Panel of Facilitators, underlined the importance of emplacing practical measures capable of securing the support and compliance of the parties and other stakeholders. Emphasis was placed on the need for flexible and timely financing, streamlined administrative and travel arrangements, and adequate analytical, logistical, documentation, security and field support to enable implementation of the Roadmap.

The AU Commission appreciates SADC for co-hosting the High-Level Harmonisation Meeting and for its continued commitment to the consolidation of peace and security in the DRC and the Great Lakes Region. The Commission also expressed gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Botswana, EAC, ICGLR, IJS, invited experts, and representatives of Qatar, the United States and other partners for their contributions and continued support to the AU-led mediation process.

The High-Level meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by the Panel of Facilitators, the African Union Commission, the Regional Economic Communities and the IJS to implement the adopted Six-Month Roadmap and Operational Action Plan and to support the AU Mediator in advancing a coordinated, coherent, inclusive and African-led peace process for eastern DRC. The Panel of Facilitators agreed to present the Roadmap and Operational Plan to the AU Mediator for endorsement. The next Harmonization session of the Panel of Facilitators and the IJS will hold before the end of 2026 in Arusha, Tanzania.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Akok Manyuat Madut | Head, Mediation and Dialogue Division | Directorate for Conflict Management | Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security | African Union Commission | E-mail: Maduta@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

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