Togo and Four Neighbors Sign Regional Pact on Security and Refugee Protection

Public Management

Monday, 07 July 2025 06:26

Togo and Four Neighbors Sign Regional Pact on Security and Refugee Protection

(Togo First) - On Friday, July 4, in Lomé, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana officially adopted and signed a joint declaration on national security and refugee protection. The signing took place on the second day of the ministerial meeting of the Regional Dialogue on the subject, held in the Togolese capital.

The initiative, launched in March 2024 by the five countries with support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was designed to respond to the growing challenges faced by each state. Since the worsening of the security and humanitarian situation in the Sahel, these nations have grappled with population influxes and increasing risks of destabilization. The goal was to address concrete measures for reconciling national security imperatives with refugee protection.

Lomé Declaration Boosts Refugee Safeguards

The Lomé Declaration is the result of more than a year of continuous dialogue among the five countries on various issues related to forced displacement. It enshrines a series of recommendations and commits the signatories to implement them. Specifically, the multi-party agreement includes reinforcing the principle of non-refoulement, establishing simplified procedures for refugee status recognition, empowering refugees through access to essential services, and enhancing national and sub-regional coordination, particularly regarding nomadic refugee populations.

Regional Leaders Urge Action

“The Lomé Declaration calls us to action. Let it be a flame that lights our steps, a vow we carry in our hearts and in our deeds,” urged Kodjo Adedze, President of the National Assembly and representative of the President of the Council, following the signing of the document by the ministers responsible for security and the interior from each country.

“We reaffirm our commitment to better human security for refugees and host communities,” stated Barrie Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West and Central Africa (UNOWAS), who was also present at the event.

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.