Togo's New Senate Forms Committees, Prepares for First Budget Review

Economic governance

Wednesday, 26 November 2025 10:45

Togo's New Senate Forms Committees, Prepares for First Budget Review

(Togo First) - Togo’s newly established Senate has formed its standing committees, completing the final step before it begins examining the 2026 budget, the first since its creation.

The upper chamber held its second plenary meeting on Tuesday to approve its seven standing committees. This marks the last phase of internal organization before reviewing the 2026 finance bill, which is currently under examination in the National Assembly.

Meeting at the Palace of Congress, senators unanimously approved the committees’ composition in line with articles 32 and 35 of their internal rules.

Senate President Barry Moussa Barqué said the committees are “the core of parliamentary activity” and will ensure the quality of legislative work. Committee leadership has also been appointed, enabling the chamber to start reviewing bills sent to it.

The development comes as the National Assembly is already studying the 2026 budget, projected at 2,740.5 billion CFA francs, an increase of 14.4 percent from the previous fiscal year. Lawmakers have begun a detailed review of spending lines and priorities with the ministers of Budget, Finance and Economy in attendance.

Once adopted by the lower house, the bill will be transmitted to the Senate for a second reading, under the equal bicameral system set out in the Constitution.

The Senate will be responsible for ensuring that the budget’s priorities align with the needs of the population and with economic and security goals.

R.E.D.

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.