The Autonomous District of Greater Lomé (DAGL) has initiated a four-month study to investigate illegal occupation of public reserves and roads, as well as uncontrolled urbanization in Togo’s capital.

The project, launched on May 27, aims to gather comprehensive data to inform effective urban management strategies. The study will analyze the root causes of chaotic city expansion, assess its environmental and social impacts, and recommend measures for improved land use.

Bossa Makagni-Amelété, Director of Strategic Planning and Urban Development at the DAGL, emphasized that the study aligns with the government’s strategic vision for land use planning. “This initiative goes beyond research—it is about reinforcing local governance, securing land tenure, promoting balanced urbanization, and ensuring social and territorial equity,” he said.

This effort follows a prior census of state administrative reserves conducted by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Traditional Chieftaincy, which began in September 2024 and covered all 13 communes of Greater Lomé.

The DAGL leads land use planning and urban development in the capital, which has experienced rapid population and economic growth in recent decades, often outpacing formal planning standards.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Stand bookings for the 20th edition of the Lomé International Fair (Foire Internationale de Lomé, FIL) are now open online and will continue until August 31. Launched 40 years ago, the fair is scheduled to take place from November 28 to December 14, 2025.

The Centre Togolais des Expositions et Foires (CETEF), which oversees the fair, said in a statement that registration is exclusively digital this year, through its dedicated platform: e-fil.cetef.tg. Companies, economic operators, and national and international institutions are encouraged to complete participation formalities as soon as possible due to logistical constraints and limited space.

“It is strongly advised to finalize registration as soon as possible to avoid missing out,” said Dr. Alexandre de Souza, General Manager of CETEF, highlighting the system’s digital approach for both exhibitors and visitors. CETEF also offers in-person assistance at its headquarters for those experiencing difficulties with online registration.

Launched in 1985 as a biennial event, FIL has grown into a key economic gathering in West Africa, now held annually. The fair attracts exhibitors from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, serving as a major platform for trade, innovation, and cross-sector cooperation.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

SAFER, the Autonomous Road Maintenance Financing Company of Togo, has launched mobile weighing brigades on key roads. The brigades target strategic, high-traffic locations to combat overloading by heavy vehicles, which causes rapid damage to the national road network.

The pilot phase focuses on National Route 1. SAFER’s mobile brigades use the latest axle scales and operate around the clock, 24/7. Their technical standards match those of fixed stations, such as Djéréhouyé in the Plateaux region.

SAFER positions the mobile brigades to outsmart truck drivers who bypass fixed checkpoints. Some drivers comply with fixed station controls, then secretly reload their vehicles further down the road. SAFER says this rule-breaking damages road infrastructure.

The organization notes that mobile brigades deliver the same precision as fixed stations. They also offer greater flexibility and wider territorial coverage. This makes the system more responsive and adaptable.

SAFER plans to expand the mobile units to other sensitive areas. The expansion will include transit corridors to Burkina Faso, Benin, and Ghana.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

On May 26, the Cadre Permanent de Concertation (CPC) held its 21st session to review the electoral process and collect proposals from the parties. During the meeting, participants suggested amendments regarding the coming local elections scheduled for July 10.

Renewing the CENI

The renewal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) remains a key concern. “We are calling on the President of the National Assembly to initiate this renewal, which has been slow in coming,” said CPC President Me Tchassona Traoré.

A May 21, 2025, decree has also sparked debate. The decree changes the number of delegates on local electoral commissions. Some parties say the change complicates election preparations. Several participants called for a suspension of the decree, a return to the 2019 rules, or even a postponement of the vote if the decree stands.

Participants also asked for an extension of the candidacy submission deadline. The current deadline is May 29 Ascension Day, a public holiday. They argue the extension would ensure fair participation.

Minister of Territorial Administration Hodabalo Awaté promised to relay all recommendations to the Chairman of the Council. He hinted at possible adjustments in the coming days.

EDF Renewables, part of the EDF Group, has secured a $10 million senior loan from Mirova, a sustainable investment manager under Natixis Investment Managers.
This cash injection will boost EDF’s Energy For All platform, which pushes off-grid solar solutions across Africa, especially in Togo.

Mirova’s Gigaton fund now fuels EDF’s expansion in key African nations: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, South Africa, and Togo.

Through its Bboxx EDF Togo joint venture, EDF targets rural communities lacking grid access. The partnership plans to roll out solar home kits, water pumps, and solar farming systems.

“Thanks to this support, we will be able to provide decarbonized electricity to 5 million people by 2030,” said Xavier Rouland, director of off-grid projects at EDF Renewables.

More than 80% of the world’s unelectrified population lives in sub-Saharan Africa.
Off-grid solar now dominates new electricity connections. The World Bank reports that off-grid solar accounted for 55% of new connections between 2020 and 2022. The sector needs $21 billion in cumulative investment by 2030 to realize its full potential.

In Togo, Bboxx-EDF already drives the Cizo rural electrification project, but EDF is not alone. Togo recently secured €26.5 million from the African Development Bank for a 62 MWp solar plant in Sokodé. Just weeks ago, Chinese firm TBEA broke ground on another solar plant in Dapaong, northern Togo.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Togo has paused the issuance of new mining permits for prospecting and exploration. The Ministry of Mines and Energy Resources has recently issued a decree in this regard.

This “strategic pause”, according to the Ministry, will give Togo time to overhaul its Mining Code. “This is a strategic pause, the time to provide our country with a legal framework that is better adapted, more rigorous, and geared towards sustainability, transparency, and inclusion,” the Ministry states.

The suspension fits reforms launched under Togo’s Fifth Republic. The country adopted a new Constitution on May 6, 2024. Authorities have already started reviewing the Mining Code. 

The reform aims to lead to a stricter and more suitable framework for natural resource exploitation. The Ministry describes this as “a further step towards a more responsible and equitable mining sector.”

The decree halts permits for all mineral substances nationwide. The ban does not cover building materials and industrial minerals.

Introduced in 1996, the current Mining Code was amended in 2003. According to the authorities, it “appears obsolete in the face of contemporary environmental, social, and economic challenges.”

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Togo’s agricultural exports reached CFA152.9 billion in 2023, marking a moderate increase of 2.5% compared to 2022, according to official data from the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) consulted by Togo First.

The year featured contrasting dynamics across sectors. 

Cocoa emerged as the main driver, with raw bean export revenues surging 54.7% to CFA16.7 billion. Export volumes jumped 55.5%, from 8,357 to nearly 13,000 tonnes, despite a slight 0.5% drop in average selling prices.

In contrast, the cotton sector continued its decline. External sales of lint fell 32.1% in value to CFA19.1 billion, according to the BCEAO. The central bank attributed the drop to a growing disaffection among Togolese farmers, who shifted to more profitable crops such as soybeans. Overall, cotton exports dropped 27% to 16,511 tonnes.

Exports of plant-based food products, including oilseeds, cereals, flour, fruit, and vegetables, rose 8.2% to CFA109.1 billion. This segment remained the most dynamic, boosted by strong oilseed exports, which increased 9.6%, mainly to ECOWAS countries. Cereals and flour exports, however, fell sharply by 35.7%. 

Agricultural raw materials such as cottonseed and wood exports dropped 26.2% to CFA2.9 billion. India, Burkina Faso, and Mali remained Togo’s main customers for these products.

Overall, Togo’s performance reflected mixed fortunes for cash and food crops. From 2019 to 2023, agricultural exports grew from 110 billion to nearly CFA153 billion, representing an average annual growth rate of about 8.41%, despite fluctuations in some years.

By Ayi Renaud Dossavi

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Last week, the Togolese Revenues Office (OTR) and the Togo Professional Union of Customs Agents  (UPRAD-Togo) held a workshop to streamline customs clearance at the Port of Lomé (PAL) and to strengthen public-private collaboration.

Discussions between OTR and UPRAD-Togo focused on optimizing procedures, simplifying formalities, and speeding up digitalization. This should contribute to the PAL’s ambition to reinforce its role as a sub-regional hub.

Both sides agreed to keep a steady technical dialogue. They plan to identify and remove logistical bottlenecks.

These talks match recent reforms initiated by the PAL. These include the Sydonia World IT system and the automated risk management system. The reforms have already cut customs clearance times and improved transparency.

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