WANEP-Togo reports security gains in 2025 despite rising incidents

Security

Friday, 06 February 2026 12:28

WANEP-Togo reports security gains in 2025 despite rising incidents

(Togo First) - WANEP-Togo, the Togolese chapter of the West African Network for Peacebuilding, released its 2025 annual security report in Lomé, Togo, on Feb. 4, 2026. Drawing on data from the National Early Warning System (NEWS-Togo), the report offers a nuanced assessment of the country’s security situation. It portrays a security environment combining measurable progress with persistent vulnerabilities.

A total of 629 incidents were recorded nationwide in 2025, a 40% increase from 2024. The rise was driven mainly by an increase in incidents linked to democracy and governance, which accounted for 424 cases. The report also recorded 108 cases of gender-based violence and 52 incidents related to environmental and health risks.

WANEP-Togo said electoral periods and certain sociopolitical events contributed to spikes in incidents, particularly between February and July.

At the same time, the report highlights several encouraging developments. The number of deaths linked to security incidents fell by more than 36%, dropping from 245 in 2024 to 157 in 2025.

Incidents related to organized crime and violent extremism also declined by nearly half, from 87 to 45 cases. WANEP-Togo attributed this improvement to capacity-building efforts for the defence and security forces, improved reporting mechanisms, and greater involvement of local communities.

Significant challenges remain. The north of the country continues to face threats from armed incursions, while sexual violence, disappearances, road accidents, and local conflicts persist, affecting human security. The Savanes region, particularly the prefectures of Kpendjal and Kpendjal-Ouest, is identified as a high-risk area amid ongoing security pressures.

As the jihadist threat persists along the northern border, public authorities have launched several initiatives and projects with the support of technical and financial partners to strengthen community resilience. As the response extends beyond military action, the government has introduced a “social shield” worth several billion CFA francs.

This strategy includes the Emergency Programme for Strengthening Resilience in the Savanes Region (PURS) and the Social Cohesion of the Northern Regions of the Gulf of Guinea (COSO) project, funded by the World Bank. Total funding has been increased to $83 million, or about 50 billion CFA francs, following an extension dedicated to refugee management. The project aims to reduce social divisions in vulnerable areas.

WANEP-Togo is the national branch of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, a civil society organisation dedicated to conflict prevention and resolution in the sub-region. It works to promote political and social stability through early warning mechanisms, mediation, and capacity-building for local actors and women.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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.