EU Commits to Back Togolese Mediation in DRC Crisis

Politics

Wednesday, 02 July 2025 12:03

EU Commits to Back Togolese Mediation in DRC Crisis

(Togo First) - Togo’s mediation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) crisis has gained European Union (EU) backing. On July 1, 2025, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé met with Johan Borgstam, the EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes region, in Lomé.

During the talks, Borgstam confirmed the EU’s readiness to support Togo’s mediation efforts. “I reaffirmed to the President of the Council the European Union’s commitment to support the various ongoing mediation efforts,” Borgstam said.

Togo, mandated by the African Union (AU), has already helped broker progress in the DRC conflict. On June 27, Togolese diplomats joined a ministerial delegation in Washington for the signing of a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda, alongside the United States and other partners.

Le Président du Conseil, @FEGnassingbe, Médiateur de l’Union africaine dans la crise en République Démocratique du Congo s’est entretenu ce 1ᵉʳ juillet 2025 avec Johan Borgstam, Représentant spécial de l’Union européenne pour la région des Grands Lacs. https://t.co/oik0J9dVLy pic.twitter.com/19JyzfY6ge
— Présidence du Conseil du Togo (@presidencecstg) July 1, 2025

Now, the key task is to implement the agreement effectively. Borgstam stressed the need for action: “It is an important step in the right direction, but what matters now is implementation with the involvement and participation of the populations concerned so that we can ensure the viability and sustainability of this agreement.”

Since the AU appointed President Gnassingbé as Mediator in April 2025, he has ramped up consultations with regional and international actors. His goal is to foster inclusive dialogue and achieve a lasting, peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern DRC.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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.