Togo’s president of the council of ministers and African Union-appointed mediator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crisis, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, arrived in Rwanda late on Wednesday night, January 29, 2026.
According to Rwanda’s ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation, President Gnassingbé was received in Kigali by the minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe.
In a statement shared on X, the ministry said: “This evening, the president of the council of ministers of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, arrived in Kigali on a working visit and was received by the minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation.”
In April 2025, the African Union (AU) assembly appointed Gnassingbé as mediator to facilitate dialogue between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid persistent tensions linked to insecurity in eastern DRC.
The AU commission was tasked with working closely with all concerned parties to prepare negotiations building on progress made under the joint Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.
Gnassingbé replaced Angolan president João Lourenço, who stepped down from the mediation role on March 24 to focus on broader continental responsibilities as AU chairperson.
However, since the transition, progress toward lasting peace in eastern DRC has remained limited, with relations between Rwanda and the DRC continuing to be strained.
Beyond his mediation role, President Gnassingbé’s visit also reflects the strong bilateral ties between Rwanda and Togo.
Earlier this month, the governments of Rwanda and Togo signed a visa waiver agreement allowing holders of various categories of passports from both countries to travel without visa requirements.
The agreement was signed on January 16, 2026, by Rwanda’s minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, and his Togolese counterpart, Prof. Robert Dussey.
President Gnassingbé last visited Rwanda between January 18 and 19, 2025, on a trip aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation by accelerating the implementation of existing agreements and exploring new areas of partnership.
