In Lomé, U.N. launches new regional conflict-prevention platform for the Gulf of Guinea

Security

Friday, 05 June 2026 18:12

In Lomé, U.N. launches new regional conflict-prevention platform for the Gulf of Guinea

(Togo First) - The United Nations system brought together government officials, regional institutions and development partners in Lomé on Wednesday and Thursday for a regional dialogue on conflict prevention in the Gulf of Guinea, as insecurity continues to spill over from the Sahel into coastal West African states.

The meeting, co-organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), focused on how to address violent extremism, illicit trafficking, forced displacement and communal tensions that are increasingly affecting coastal countries along the Gulf of Guinea.

A key outcome of the talks was the launch of the Gulf of Guinea Prevention Facility (2026-2029), a regional platform aimed at coordinating interventions across five countries, including Togo, around three priorities: governance, civilian protection and local economic development.

For the United Nations, the goal is to tackle the drivers of vulnerability before crises take hold. The U.N. resident coordinator in Togo, Coumba Sow, noted that the Sahel now accounts for more than half of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide.

The dialogue builds on the U.N.'s expanding presence in Togo. In April, the organization opened a joint office in the Savanes region and launched a violence-prevention project funded by the Peacebuilding Fund.

According to the United Nations, more than two million people benefited from its programmes in Togo between 2024 and 2025, spanning health, nutrition, social protection and community resilience.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

In Lomé, U.N. launches new regional conflict-prevention platform for the Gulf of Guinea

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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.