Togo First
Togo Receives Observer Missions Ahead of July 17 Local Elections
In the lead-up to Togo’s municipal elections scheduled for July 17, the country began receiving several international election observer missions on July 15.
The first delegation to arrive in Lomé was from the Council of the Entente, a sub-regional organization of which Togo is a member. The group has begun consultations with key national stakeholders in the electoral process, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC), the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Discussions have focused on the national legal framework governing the elections and the rules surrounding election observation. The delegation emphasized strict adherence to the law, along with the importance of neutrality, impartiality, objectivity, and diplomatic discretion throughout their mission.
“We count on you to demonstrate the seriousness and high standards that define your institutions. In return, the government guarantees full cooperation: enhanced security, support for your movements, and access to all relevant information,” said Afo Salifou, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Togolese Abroad.
Other observer missions, including those from ECOWAS and the African Union, are expected in the coming hours. They will work alongside national observers from civil society organizations who have been mobilized to monitor the vote across the country.
Togo Launches Mobile Project to Ease ID Access
Togo's Directorate General of National Documentation (DGDN) officially launched the operational phase of its DGDN Mobile project on Monday, July 14, 2025. The launch event took place in Kara, northern Togo, led by Calixte Madjoulba, the Minister of Security and Civil Protection.
This initiative is part of the government's 2020-2025 roadmap, specifically under its strategic pillar focused on "Providing identity and ensuring access to basic services for all." The project aims to bring identity document services closer to remote and underserved populations across the country.
In practical terms, DGDN Mobile seeks to enable more citizens, particularly those in rural areas, to obtain official identity documents, especially the national identity card. The project also aims to reduce application processing times while simplifying user registration.
Expanding Access to Identity Services
"By 2028, the goal is to ensure that the majority of Togolese hold a national identity card, with direct access to documentation services for at least 80% of the rural population," stated Simtaya Djohéna, Director of Residence Permits, Visas, and Immigration at the DGDN.
The project follows an innovative, mobility-driven approach. Specially trained technical teams are deployed in the field to collect applicant data and efficiently process files. Officials expect this proximity strategy to significantly improve documentation coverage rates nationwide.
DGDN Mobile will roll out in two phases. The initial pilot phase will last six months, with mobile teams stationed in each of Togo's administrative regions. The second phase will involve gradual expansion into all 39 prefectures, covering all 117 municipalities through the replication of mobile units.
According to the latest available statistics from December 2022, 1,326,837 people in Togo held a national identity card, while 496,426 held a passport. The DGDN Mobile project is expected to significantly increase these figures in the coming years.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Launches €51 Million Coastal Defense Project Between Gbodjomé and Goumoukopé
Togo has launched a new coastal protection project along the Gbodjomé–Goumoukopé stretch to fight worsening shoreline erosion. The project, worth CFA33.48 billion FCFA (about €51 million), forms part of the WACA ResIP program supported by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD).
Construction is set to run for 18 months, from June 2025 to November 2026. The works will include building 22 transversal groynes—20 in Gbodjomé and 2 in Goumoukopé—each ranging from 65 to 75 meters long.
The project will also restore the beach by depositing 865,000 cubic meters of sand and filling two abandoned lagoon arms in Aného. To stabilize the shoreline naturally, teams will plant 10 hectares of coconut trees.
More than 8,000 households live near the coast, and projections show 80% of Togo’s population could live in coastal zones by 2050. This makes the new infrastructure a vital part of Togo’s climate resilience plan.
Dutch marine engineering company Boskalis International, which previously worked on the Agbodrafo–Sanvee Condji section, will handle construction. German firm Inros Lackner will supervise operations.
The technical team began preliminary works in June 2025, conducting topographic surveys, geotechnical tests, and identifying rock and sand extraction sites during a window of rough sea conditions.
In total, workers will move 1.3 million m³ of marine sand and 150,000 m³ of rock, stored across six logistics zones. All storage areas were prepared and compensated under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP).
Beyond engineering, the project tackles social and environmental issues. It includes a participatory governance model, allowing local communities to take part in complaint resolution and environmental oversight.
A community component supports women and youth by promoting alternative livelihoods in areas most affected by climate change.
Program partners—including WAEMU, FDA, and Invest International—aim to turn the eastern coastal corridor into a regional example of climate adaptation. The model combines "gray" infrastructure like dikes and groynes with nature-based solutions such as reforestation and mangrove restoration.
This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
Togo Prepares Project to Restructure Public Hospitals
Togo's health authorities are readying a "Hospital Establishment Project" (PEH) to equip regional and prefectural public hospitals. This project aims to boost governance, internal organization, and the quality of health services across Togo's regions.
Consultations began in May, bringing together health system stakeholders and technical partners. They have met to develop strategic frameworks for each hospital. Meetings have already taken place for the Plateaux and Kara regions.
Officials will design the projects to fit local conditions and the specific needs of each health region. Once complete, they should provide a more consistent structure for public hospital operations. They will also adapt healthcare services to meet public expectations.
Lancement officiel formation des membres des conseilsd'administration des hôpitaux, des COGES, des prestataires et des partenaires sur le guide d'élaboration des projets d'établissement de soins (PEH) de la Région de la Kara, ce 11 juillet 2025 au Palais des Congrès de Kara. pic.twitter.com/Ea9oY3TFps
— Ministère en charge de la Santé Togo (@MSPS_Togo) July 13, 2025
Each PEH will outline a roadmap for 2026–2030. It will include operational objectives, priority actions, and monitoring systems. The projects will focus on improving internal organization, managing human, financial, and logistical resources, and raising medical service quality.
This initiative shows a commitment to higher performance standards in public hospitals. This comes as users frequently criticize care and treatment shortcomings.
Ultimately, implementing the PEHs should also support Universal Health Insurance (AMU), active since January 2024. It will ensure better availability and quality of health services in public centers nationwide.
This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum
IMF Upgrades Togo's Debt Capacity, Boosting Fiscal Flexibility
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has upgraded Togo's debt-carrying capacity to "strong" from its previous "medium" rating. This reclassification, confirmed in the second review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) program published in late June, could positively influence the West African nation's financing conditions in the medium term and provide Togo with greater fiscal flexibility despite its high public debt.
Several factors underpin this reclassification. Economic growth is considered robust, with a 5.3% increase in 2024 and a projected 5.2% in 2025, while inflation remains contained at 2.6% in April. Additionally, the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) score, a World Bank indicator of public policy quality, has improved in recent years. Finally, the rebuilding of regional foreign exchange reserves within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), reaching 5.4 months of imports in April 2025, has helped strengthen Togo’s external position.
A direct consequence of this upgrade is that the debt threshold, based on the net present value (NPV) of public debt, has increased from 55% to 70% of GDP. According to IMF projections, Togo’s NPV debt is expected to reach 60% of GDP in 2025 before gradually declining, keeping it below this new ceiling.
Togo gains some breathing room in managing its debt. Previously, the IMF maintained that the country should not exceed a certain debt level, calculated in "net present value." This value represents the total future repayments of the debt, adjusted to today’s terms using interest rates, meaning it reflects the true "weight" of the debt over time.
Thanks to progress in public finance management, the IMF now believes Togo has a stronger repayment capacity and can sustain a slightly higher debt burden without increased risk. As a result, the debt ceiling has been raised from 55% to 70% of GDP. This new classification allows the government to ease the pace of fiscal consolidation while remaining within acceptable limits. The IMF has even agreed to postpone the target of falling back below the former 55% threshold to 2027, rather than requiring it immediately.
However, this positive development does not overshadow persistent challenges. Overall public debt stood at 72.1% of GDP in 2024, driven higher by exceptional off-budget spending, including a substantial fertilizer purchase amounting to 1.7% of GDP. Moreover, the share of short-term debt on regional markets remains high, increasing refinancing risks. The average interest rate on public debt issuances rose to 7.4% this year, up from 6.1% during the 2019–2023 period.
To maintain this positive momentum, the IMF recommends strengthening tax revenue mobilization, reducing exemptions, and continuing reforms to improve budget transparency and the governance of state-owned enterprises.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo Delays UTB Reform to 2026 Amid IMF Pressure and Unresolved Banking Risks
Togo will take longer than planned to restructure its public bank, Union Togolaise de Banque (UTB). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has granted an extension to complete this vital reform.
The full overhaul of UTB, part of the IMF-backed program, will now finish after 2026. Originally set for completion this year, the operational reorganization plan’s approval has shifted to March 2026. Implementation will follow in December 2026. The delay stems from incomplete diagnostic work.
UTB, which holds nearly 9% of Togo’s banking assets, received a recapitalization of CFA15.2 billion last December. This capital boost aimed to raise its equity to the regulatory minimum of CFA20 billion, as required by the WAEMU Banking Commission. Although this injection stabilized the bank’s prudential situation temporarily, the IMF says core structural problems remain unresolved.
“The initial audit highlighted certain weaknesses but does not yet allow for a credible operational recovery plan,” the IMF report states. UTB still breaches three prudential standards, including the solvency ratio and risk concentration limits. Non-performing loans remain high, though they dropped to 8.6% of assets at the end of 2024 from 13.2% a year earlier.
The IMF insists on a more ambitious restructuring plan based on verifiable data before continuing the FEC program. The plan must ensure management independence, restore profitability, and reduce budget risks. This demand aligns with ongoing banking and public governance reforms led by Togo’s authorities. These reforms include clarifying liabilities from former privatized banks and improving public enterprise debt reporting.
“This schedule extension does not call into question the government’s commitment to clean up the sector,” a government source said. Officials stress that the funds injected into UTB have not been wasted but must now drive lasting operational changes.
The UTB reform stands as a test of Togo’s budgetary credibility. The country aims to balance economic support, fiscal consolidation, and reduce vulnerabilities in the public sector.
Fiacre E. Kakpo
Togo Lifts Ban on Small-Scale Fishing, Industrial Ban Until August 31
Fishing nets are back in use along Togo’s coastline. As of July 10, 2025, small-scale fishing has officially resumed following a one-month biological rest. The annual break is designed to protect marine resources while supporting the long-term sustainability of the fishing sector.
Industrial fishing, however, remains suspended until August 31 in line with the country's current regulations.
This phased return reflects the government’s aim to balance environmental protection with economic activity. Minister of State Damehame Yark praised the cooperation of artisanal fishers and cooperatives, who play a vital role in a sector that supports thousands of families across the coastal region.
The biological rest period is part of Togo’s broader commitment to combat overfishing in the Gulf of Guinea and to promote responsible resource management.
Ecobank Targets $250 Million in 10-Day Capital Raise
Lomé-based banking holding company Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) launched a $250 million private placement of Tier 1 (AT1) convertible bonds on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, as previously announced.
Shareholders approved the fundraising operation at a general meeting in late May. The initiative aims to strengthen the group's capital base, improve its financial resilience, and support its expansion across Africa.
Ecobank, which operates in 35 Sub-Saharan African countries, seeks to enhance its capacity to finance key sectors such as small and medium-sized enterprises, individuals, and governments, while continuing investments in digital innovation.
This operation occurs as the bank demonstrates solid financial health, reporting $1.18 billion in consolidated equity at the end of 2024, despite some regional vulnerabilities.
With this new financial lever, led by Renaissance Capital Africa, ETI intends to solidify its position as a pan-African banking leader in a competitive environment increasingly shaped by stricter prudential requirements.
The fundraising, scheduled to last 10 days, follows two previous operations totaling $525 million, completed in less than a year.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo Updates PURS Program with Partners amid Increased Insecurity-induced Displacement in North
- Togolese government, UN agencies, NGOs and technical and financial partners start revising the joint response plan by the Emergency Program for Strengthening Community Resilocation and Security (PURS).
- The purpose is to redefine operational strategies in response to the worsening forced displacement in the north of the country.
The Togolese government, United Nations agencies, national and international NGOs, and technical and financial partners are updating the update the Emergency Program for Strengthening Community Resilience and Security (PURS). The partners started the revision on July 9. Clearly, they are redefining operational strategies to address the growing forced displacement in the northern part of the country.
The session also aimed to “redefine a budgeted roadmap that is coherent and oriented towards concrete results,” according to the PURS Regional Head, Berena Lotié, who opened the meeting.
Lotié noted that the updated plan will not only serve as a strategic guide but also as a tool for advocacy and fundraising to better support those affected. He added that the plan will be revised yearly, henceforth.
The update aims to better align humanitarian action with the real needs of displaced persons, refugees, and host communities. "This workshop is an opportunity to translate our shared will into coordinated actions, reinforcing the link between immediate humanitarian aid and long-term resilience," said Fanette Blanc, representing the UNHCR, one of the organizers.
Preliminary estimates report acute needs for 52 to 53% of the population living in the targeted areas, particularly in the Savanes region and some prefectures of the Plateaux and Central regions. The areas most concerned are access to water, sanitation, health, food security, and protection.
Originally designed to support the population of the Savanes region facing security threats, PURS is gradually expanding to other vulnerable regions of the country, including Kara, Central, and Plateaux.
This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Togo Launches 23 Local Development Projects Backed by GIZ Funding
Togo’s government has launched 23 new microprojects across ten municipalities, with financial and technical support from Germany’s GIZ. The move supports local development through socio-economic infrastructure, sanitation, and environmental protection.
At the end of June, Minister of Territorial Planning and Development Joseph Gomado officially kicked off the projects, backed by CFA168.85 million in funding from GIZ.
The selected municipalities include Oti Sud 1 (Savanes), Dankpen 1 (Kara), Mô 2 and Blitta 1 (Central), East-Mono 1, Haho 1, Agou 1 (Plateaux), Avé 2, Vo 2, and Lacs 1 (Maritime). These microprojects mark the implementation phase of the Communal Development Plans (PDCs), which align with Togo’s national 2020–2025 roadmap.
“These microprojects aim to strengthen local capacities, improve access to essential services, promote local entrepreneurship, and encourage participatory and transparent resource management,” Minister Gomado said during the launch.
The government plans to expand the program to five more pilot municipalities, eventually scaling it nationwide.
This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh
Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum