Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger coordinate efforts to tackle terrorism threat

Security

Friday, 19 October 2018 16:13

Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger coordinate efforts to tackle terrorism threat

(Togo First) - At the beginning of this week, the respective ministers of foreign affairs of Togo, Burkina Faso, Benin and Niger met in Ouagadougou to discuss security issues at the borders of these countries which are connected.

On this occasion, it was decided that threats to the security of these nations would be coordinated from now on. The meeting mainly aimed to develop a common strategy to fight terrorist threats around borders.

A move that is quite understandable considering that since 2015, insecurity and repeated terrorist attacks in the national parks of W, in Niger, and Pendjari, in Benin, greatly impaired economic activities in other border areas of these countries.

From 2015 to October 2018, the attacks which killed 243 citizens and soldiers, represent a serious threat to efforts for integration and free movement of goods and people, said Alpha Barry, Burkina’s minister of foreign affairs. According to him, “a global and holistic approach paired with preventive and concerted measures” are required to properly fight terrorism.

Recommendations were issued at the end of the meeting and a declaration was adopted to better coordinate actions taken by each of the countries concerned.

Octave A. Bruce

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.