Togo First
Togolese President in Paris for UNESCO Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa
President Faure Gnassingbé represents Togo at a UNESCO summit on Clean Cooking in Africa. The event takes place in Paris, France, today, May 14. Organized by the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the summit brings together world leaders and representatives of international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
The participants are discussing the issue of air pollution from cooking on open fires and inefficient fuels. The summit aims to make clean cooking access a key part of sustainable development. It seeks to formulate policy recommendations, mobilize financial commitments, and develop strategies in areas like carbon credit markets, development, and gender equality.
President Gnassingbé will take the opportunity to highlight his country’s efforts in promoting renewable energy, environmental protection, and improving living conditions.
Togo Faces a New Gasoline Shortage
In Togo, several neighborhoods of Lomé, the capital, and other towns, face a new gasoline shortage. The shortage started on May 12, according to the Ministry of Trade. The same source attributes the situation to supply disruptions at some gas stations.
Trade Minister, Rose Mivedor, already announced urgent measures to solve the crisis and return to normalcy. The official, among others, warned gas station managers they would be sanctioned for refusing to sell fuel.
Mivedor stressed that petroleum product prices at the pump remain unchanged nationwide. This is Togo's third gasoline shortage since September 2023.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Constitutional Court Confirms UNIR Staggering Victory in Recent Polls
The Constitutional Court of Togo announced the final results of the April 29 legislative elections yesterday, May 13. The ruling party, Union for the Republic (UNIR), secured a dominant victory with 108 out of 113 parliamentary seats, nearly 96% of the total.
Opposition parties claimed the remaining five seats. The Alliance for Democrats for Integral Development (ADDI) secured two, while the Alliance for National Change (ANC), the Dynamic for the Majority of the People (DMP), and the Democratic Forces for the Republic (FDR) had one each.
The voter turnout was 61.76%, with 2,565,623 votes cast out of 4,203,711 registered voters, in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission's (CENI) earlier announcements on May 4, 2024
The Constitutional Court has ordered the results' publication in the Official Journal of the Togolese Republic, with the next step being the convening of the new parliamentary session for the incoming legislature.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo and France Seal Deal Easing Schengen Visa Issuance to Togolese Professionals
Last week, Togo and France signed an agreement to streamline professional visa processes for France and the Schengen area benefiting both countries' nationals. The agreement was inked in Lomé by the French Ambassador to Togo, Augustin Favereau, and Togolese business and consular leaders.
The partnership will simplify visa applications through concrete measures. A "fast lane" will expedite processing for referenced company employees, while a "direct messaging" channel will facilitate swift resolution of issues.
These developments will reduce administrative bottlenecks to professional travel to France, boosting trade exchanges and economic growth in both countries by fostering worker mobility and strengthening economic ties.
Represented Togolese organizations included the National Council of Employers, the Association of Large Companies, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Union of Regional Chambers of Trades, EUROCHAM Togo, and the Togo Committee of French Foreign Trade Advisors.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
WAMU Securities: Togo secured CFA33 billion in latest issuance
Togo raised CFA33 billion on the WAMU securities market last Friday. Lomé secured the funds through a simultaneous issue of Treasury Bonds (OATs) and Treasury Bills (BATs). The target was CFA30 billion.
In detail, Togo secured CFA17.7 billion through the BATs. These securities mature over 91 and 364 days, at varied interest rates. The remaining CFA15.3 billion was raised through the OATs with a 6.15% annual interest rate and a 3-year maturity.
The issuance was oversubscribed, reaching CFA54 billion, representing 181% coverage. The government will use the proceeds to meet its 2024 national budget financing needs totaling CFA2,179 billion.
Esaïe Edoh
Africa Integration Day: Togo Reiterates Call for “New Africa” Project
Togo reiterated its call for a "new Africa" during the 4th Africa Integration Day in Lomé. Foreign Minister Robert Dussey last Wednesday emphasized the vision of an independent, sovereign Africa on the global stage.
Dussey declared that the New Africa vision is one of independence and sovereignty. He added that Togo supports this pan-Africanist vision, underscoring that “it is not an exclusive movement”. “It is inclusive. It is a determination, a will of African populations and peoples to take charge of themselves", he said.
Togo, Dussey added, is driven by a desire to promote solidarity among African nations. "We do not do it because we are smarter than others; we do it based on experience. We do it because solidarity with others is essential," he said.
This solidarity is crucial for combating the threat of terrorism across the continent.
Togo's pro-pan-Africanism actions include launching the African Political Alliance (APA) platform to address peace and security issues. Lomé, the capital, will also host the 9th Pan-African Congress in Q4 2024, enabling Africans to contemplate their future in an unstable world.
Togo, it is worth noting, has played a decisive role in resolving tensions between ECOWAS and Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, demonstrating its commitment to regional peace and stability.
Esaïe Edoh
Climate Change: Volta Basin Authority (VBA) Holds Key Workshop in Lomé
The Volta Basin Authority (ABV) holds a three-day national workshop on climate change in Lomé. The World Meteorological Organization and the Global Water Partnership in West Africa back the event.
The workshop, ending on May 10th, gathers around 40 participants from various organizations, including Togo's water, meteorology, civil protection, environmental, and agriculture agencies.
The workshop aims to strengthen climate change resilience by identifying and promoting best practices and opportunities for integrated risk management and adaptation in the Volta Basin. Discussions have covered flood and drought risk management, best practice dissemination, and engaging local communities in long-term measures.
During the opening, the Minister's Chief of Staff highlighted the diversity of participants and the critical issues addressed. Concrete strategies are expected to emerge to enhance adaptation capacity in the Volta Basin.
The Volta Basin Authority covers six West African countries, spanning 400,000 km² with 20 million transboundary inhabitants. It represents the 9th largest river basin in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
University of Kara: 34,000 Graduates in 20 Years
Togo’s second-largest public university, the University of Kara, celebrated its 20th anniversary with Open Days on May 6th and 7th, 2024. This event aimed to familiarize students from Kara and media professionals with the university.
The university showcased its study programs, the LMD system (Bachelor 's-Master 's-Doctorate), and its regional development contributions. The focus was on encouraging enrollment, especially in professional-oriented fields, to guide students toward successful careers.
At the event’s launch, Kokou Tchariè, President of the University of Kara, stressed the importance of discipline and respect for success in higher education. He highlighted the university's diverse and professional training, particularly in agriculture and animal husbandry, preparing students for entrepreneurship post-graduation.
These Open Days allowed prospective students to explore the University of Kara's expertise and envision their academic journey. With a focus on professionalization and employability, the university aims to drive Togo's economic and social progress.
Established in 1999 and officially opened in 2004, the University of Kara offers various faculties, a doctoral school, and institutes providing fundamental and professional study programs. Over the years, the university has graduated around 34,000 students.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Starts Implementing Hydro Agro Meteorological Information System
Togo has launched the implementation of a Hydro Agro Meteorological Information System (SIHAM), a digital solution to improve rainfall forecasts for farmers. The initiative began with the training of 25 survey agents in Sokodé, a city in the country's center.
Supported by the World Bank's Fund for Rural Poverty Reduction (FSRP), SIHAM aims to enhance the dissemination of rainfall forecasts for users of the National Meteorology Agency (ANAMET) services. The system will primarily be deployed in Planned Agricultural Development Zones (ZAAP), enhancing agricultural production in the country.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the SIHAM will be deployed in four stages, starting with the training of survey agents. The project was developed following an agreement between FSRP Togo and the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). It is currently in its pilot phase.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo: Telecom Regulator ARCEP to Carry Out Two Mobile Network Quality Checks in 2024
Togo's telecom regulator ARCEP plans two mobile network quality checks in 2024. The watchdog seeks to this end an international firm to assist with 2G, 3G, and 4G assessments nationwide. It launched the related tender on May 6.
The campaigns will evaluate service indicators using test call platforms. ARCEP says this is part of its regulatory mandate. The regulator added that operators failing to meet its regulatory thresholds may face penalties.
The campaigns’ goal is to ensure that consumers get quality telecom services per operator specifications. In 2023, a December campaign found slight improvements for Togocel and Moov Africa Togo. However, compliance remains below requirements, with non-compliance rates at 46.84% for Togo Cellulaire and 57.65% for Moov Africa Togo.
Esaïe Edoh