Togo updates Sahel policy amid regional shifts in West Africa

Security

Friday, 17 April 2026 03:01

Togo updates Sahel policy amid regional shifts in West Africa

(Togo First) - Togo has reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to stability in the Sahel and strengthening peace in West Africa. As part of that effort, the country has developed a new Sahel strategy for 2026–2028.

The strategy will be presented on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Lomé, at a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The new roadmap replaces the one adopted in 2021, which guided Togo’s engagement in the Sahel over the past four years. It comes amid sweeping geopolitical shifts in West Africa, including a persistent terrorist threat in the Sahel that is now spreading to Gulf of Guinea countries, and the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

In response, Lomé plans to adjust its approach and regional cooperation framework. Specifically, the new strategy aims to align the country’s actions with evolving realities in the Sahel across security, economic and political areas.

The Lomé meeting will bring together stakeholders from the Sahel. It will provide a forum to present the strategy’s main directions and priority areas, which are based on dialogue and cooperation. For Togolese authorities, the gathering is also an opportunity to reaffirm their intent to work with AES member states, consistent with Togo’s stance toward those countries since their departure from ECOWAS.

Since tensions between the AES and ECOWAS first emerged, Togo has positioned itself as a key player on both the political and economic fronts. The country plays a central role in facilitating trade with Sahel states, which rely on the port of Lomé for supplies in multiple sectors.

Esaïe Edoh

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.