KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Second delay pushes elections from Sept 10-12 to Sept 17-19, ensuring participation of all 1,527 councilors
• Decentralization milestone launches new municipal term across 117 communes in ongoing power transfer since 2019
• Democratic scrutiny attracts close monitoring from political stakeholders and international development partner

Togo has postponed its mayoral elections for the second time in less than a month, pushing the vote from September 10-12 to September 17-19 as authorities seek to ensure full participation of all elected municipal councilors.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration announced the delay, citing the need to improve logistical organization and guarantee that all 1,527 municipal councilors elected in July can participate in selecting mayors and their deputies across the country's 117 communes.

The elections were originally scheduled for September 2-4 before being moved to this week. Public authorities emphasized their commitment to creating conditions for a transparent, inclusive process that complies with current legislation.

The mayoral appointments will officially launch the new municipal term, installing local executives who will play crucial roles in implementing development policies, managing resources, and advancing decentralization priorities throughout the country.

The electoral process carries particular significance as part of Togo's broader decentralization effort, which has been transferring powers from the central government to local authorities since 2019. This gradual shift represents a cornerstone of the nation's territorial governance strategy.

Both political stakeholders and development partners are closely monitoring the smooth conduct of these internal elections, recognizing their importance for strengthening democratic governance at the local level.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• $44 billion investments and deals projected by fair’s conclusion
• Competitive advantage sectors include agro-industry, logistics, textiles with German-EU program support
• Continental integration builds on 2018 AfCFTA agreement offering smaller economies broader market access

Twenty (20) Togolese micro, small, and medium enterprises have been showcasing their products at the fourth Intra-African Trade Fair since September 4. This year, the fair, hosted in Algiers, Algeria, welcomed over 2,000 exhibitors and 30,000 delegates.

The event, themed "Gateway to new opportunities," represents a strategic platform for Togolese businesses to gain visibility in Africa's rapidly expanding market, where trade agreements and investments are projected to exceed $44 billion by the fair's conclusion.

Togo's participation, backed by the Ministry of Commerce, Handicrafts and Local Consumption, aims to connect national entrepreneurs with commercial networks across the continent. Most participating Togolese companies, which focus on processing and marketing local products, receive support from German Cooperation and the European Union through the ProComp program and the Alliance for Product Quality in Africa (AfPQ-AfCFTA), implemented by GIZ.

The Algiers fair, organized by Afreximbank in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, builds on momentum from the 2018 Kigali agreement that established the African Continental Free Trade Area—a landmark accord designed to boost intra-African commerce.

For Togo, the stakes extend beyond immediate networking and business partnerships. The nation seeks to promote products and services in sectors where it holds competitive advantages, particularly agro-industry, logistics, textiles, and handicrafts.

Esaïe Edoh

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Reparations leadership as Togo spearheads AU classification of slavery and colonization as crimes against humanity
• Economic diversification targets Caribbean trade expansion, renewable energy investment, and enhanced global profile
• South-South cooperation leverages shared African diaspora history for contemporary political and economic partnerships

Togo participated in the second Africa-CARICOM summit on Sunday, Sept 7, with Foreign Minister Robert Dussey representing the nation at talks focused on strengthening ties between Africa and the Caribbean Community through a shared pursuit of restorative justice.

The summit, held under the theme "Transcontinental partnership for restorative justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations," aimed to deepen political, economic, and cultural connections between the two regions.

Speaking at the event on behalf of Council President Faure Gnassingbé, Dussey highlighted the African Union's landmark classification of slavery, deportation, and colonization as crimes against humanity and genocide against African peoples. The Togolese diplomat emphasized his country's leading role in this initiative, calling it a major turning point that officially recognizes centuries of injustice.

"This decision reflects a paradigm shift, in response to the aspirations of the African and Caribbean peoples," Dussey declared, underscoring its restorative and historic significance for both regions.

Beyond reparations, discussions encompassed security, peace, trade, climate change, education, and health issues, with particular attention to the African diaspora in the Caribbean. For Togo, the summit represents more than symbolic solidarity—the nation seeks to expand trade with dynamic island economies, attract investment in strategic sectors including agro-industry and renewable energy, and enhance its profile as a committed player in pan-African and international forums.

CARICOM, established in 1973, comprises 15 member states forming a market actively seeking new growth drivers. For Lomé, this partnership offers an opportunity to diversify external relationships amid intensifying geopolitical rivalries and growing emphasis on South-South cooperation.

The summit underscores Africa's evolving diplomatic strategy, leveraging shared historical experiences to build contemporary economic and political alliances with diaspora communities worldwide.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

• Historic gathering convenes December 8-12, first congress in eight years since Accra edition
• Diaspora engagement crisis addressed as AU seeks to bridge gap with "abandoned" Afro-descendants globally
• Global governance reform positions pan-Africanism as tool for equitable African representation in international institutions

The 9th Pan-African Congress will convene December 8-12 in Lomé after several postponements, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey announced last week.

The continental summit will gather African leaders, politicians, academics, legal experts, and civil society representatives in the Togolese capital, alongside members of the African diaspora. Participants will focus on revitalizing pan-Africanism and defining Africa's role in reforming multilateral institutions.

"The need for a 9th Pan-African Congress in Lomé has imposed itself on Africa for several reasons," Dussey explained. "Among them, the need to put an end to the paradox between the African Union's clearly expressed desire to involve the diasporas more in the continent's development, and the feeling of abandonment felt by many Afro-descendants."

The gathering aims to position pan-Africanism as both an ideological foundation and a practical tool for addressing contemporary challenges. Delegates will also examine the urgent need for equitable reform of international institutions to ensure fairer African representation in global governance.

Eight years have passed since the last congress in Accra, and organizers view the Lomé meeting as a potential turning point. The diaspora, in particular, has been called upon to assume a driving role in building renewed African solidarity.

The congress represents a critical opportunity to bridge the gap between continental aspirations and diaspora engagement, while charting a path forward for African unity in an evolving global landscape.

 Highlights:

• Togo’s OTR collected 737.2 billion CFA francs by August, 61% of the 2025 target.
• Performance equals 92.5% of forecast for Jan–Aug, up 4.8% y/y.
• OTR drafting 2026-2030 plan to digitize tax administration and widen the base.

The Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) collected 737.2 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) by the end of August, representing 61% of its annual target of 1,208.4 billion CFA francs, officials said on September 2, 2025, during a management seminar in Kara.

The figure corresponds to 92.5% of the OTR’s forecast for the first eight months (797.3 billion CFA francs) and marks a 4.8% year-on-year increase.

“This performance reflects the sustained pace of tax collection and the combined efforts of our tax, customs, and land registry departments,” said Commissioner General Philippe Tchodié.

To reach its annual goal, the OTR plans to broaden the tax base to include digital platforms, strengthen action against customs fraud and smuggling, and apply the new governance framework introduced this year.

The seminar also marked the start of work on the OTR’s 2026-2030 strategic plan, which will prioritize digital tools to boost transparency and improve trust between taxpayers and the administration.

Esaïe Edoh

• CFMI to offer partial scholarships to top BAC Pro and BTS students.
• Beneficiaries will pay one-third of fees; scholarships cover the rest.
• CFMI has trained 1,150 youth in 10 years, with 70% job placement.

The Centre de Formation aux Métiers de l’Industrie (CFMI) has announced partial scholarships for students with the highest scores in the BAC Pro and BTS exams. Applications are open until September 15.

Selected students will pay only one-third of their tuition, with the scholarships covering the rest. “These measures are aimed at reinvigorating the industrial sector and offering concrete job opportunities to Togolese youth,” said Jules Anani Gozo, CFMI General Manager.

The initiative is supported by the Togolese state and several professional organizations, including AFMI, the National Employers’ Council (CNP), the Association of Large Companies (AGET), the Free Zone Enterprises Association (ASOZOF), and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT).

Founded a decade ago through Franco-Togolese cooperation, the CFMI has since trained over 1,150 young people. About 70% of graduates have entered the workforce, according to the institution.

Highlights:

• Togo to distribute over 100,000 school kits to girls across 64 cantons.
• Initiative part of World Bank-backed SWEDD+ program on education and gender equality.
• Girls’ school completion lags: 59.9% at lower secondary vs 66.8% for boys; only 11% of women in higher education.

Togo will launch on September 9, 2025, a large-scale campaign to distribute more than 100,000 school kits to girls enrolled in public schools, part of efforts to promote education and equal opportunities. The initiative will be launched in Djémégni, Plateaux region, under the patronage of President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé.

The program, supported by the World Bank under the regional SWEDD+ project (Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend in the Enlarged Sahel), will benefit girls in 64 cantons nationwide. Kits include basic supplies and equipment for primary, middle and high school students.

“Girls’ education is not an option, it’s a national priority,” said a project manager. “By offering them the means to succeed, the government is translating into action the President’s vision of investing in human capital.”

Despite progress, disparities remain. According to UNESCO, in 2022, 87% of girls completed primary school versus 91% of boys. At lower secondary level, the completion rate dropped to 59.9% for girls and 66.8% for boys. Gross enrolment in higher education stood at just 11% for women compared with 19% for men.

Beyond kits, SWEDD+ Togo also includes awareness campaigns and family support programs to reduce dropouts, early marriage and financial barriers. For the World Bank, investing in girls’ education remains a key driver of inclusive development.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

Highlights:

• Over 4,000 youths joined Togo’s Youth Delivery Lab in Lomé on Sept. 6.
• Event focused on agribusiness, sports industry, peace and cohesion.
• Proposals will be submitted to authorities to shape youth policies.

More than 4,000 young Togolese took part in the second edition of the Youth Delivery Lab (YDL), a citizen platform for participatory dialogue held in Lomé on Saturday.

The gathering, themed “Harnessing the potential of young people for development,” brought together youth, officials and experts to debate agribusiness, the sports industry, and peace and social cohesion.

“We want to involve youth in the definition and implementation of public policies, and this activity is an opportunity to stimulate youth leadership and gather their proposals,” said Abdul Fahd Fofana, Minister Delegate.

According to organizers, the conclusions from panel discussions and round tables will be synthesized and submitted to national authorities to guide youth-focused policies.

The YDL, first held in 2023 with about 600 participants, has expanded significantly, underscoring the government’s effort to make young people central to policymaking in a country where more than 60% of the population is under 25.

Octave A. Bruce