Togo First
Togo flags price risks from Middle East conflict
Togolese authorities are stepping up vigilance over the potential economic fallout from the Middle East conflict, aiming to anticipate impacts already rippling through global energy and shipping markets.
The Council of Ministers, meeting on April 1, 2026, was briefed on the crisis, which has heightened tensions across energy and transport markets.
“The persistence of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East is weighing on the global economy by disrupting key maritime trade routes,” the government said. The situation is pushing up the cost of maritime transport, oil, natural gas and fertilizers, with direct price impacts.
Although Togo’s direct trade ties with countries involved in the conflict remain limited, the government sees indirect effects as significant. “Togo’s economy, like those of the entire sub-region, is not immune to indirect effects,” it said.
The country’s dependence on imported petroleum products is a key vulnerability.
Between February and March 2026, oil prices rose from $70 to $100 a barrel following the outbreak of the conflict, amid market volatility. Prices later climbed above $105 a barrel after a recent address by U.S. President Donald Trump, described as a key actor in the conflict with Iran. In the near term, this could translate into higher transport and energy costs and, ultimately, increased living costs.
Pressure on prices and supply chains
Disruptions to maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, pose a significant risk to supply chains. Togolese authorities have warned of possible shortages and price increases for certain staple goods, as well as potential effects on port activity. Given the country’s active port sector, knock-on effects are considered likely.
Early signs are emerging in the sub-region. In Mali, fuel prices were recently raised, although it remains difficult to attribute the increase solely to Middle East tensions.
In Togo, pump prices have so far remained stable, with premium gasoline at 680 CFA francs and diesel at 695 CFA francs, supported by a pricing mechanism involving subsidies and periodic adjustments.
Faced with these uncertainties, the government is taking a phased approach. “Discussions are under way to determine the most appropriate measures to preserve purchasing power and maintain public finance stability,” the Council of Ministers said.
President Faure Gnassingbé, who chairs the Council, instructed relevant ministers to continue monitoring the situation closely.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo begins digitizing foreign affairs services in four-week project
Togo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Togolese Diaspora has begun digitizing its services. The effort, part of the country’s Public Administration Digitalization Program, was launched on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey and Digital Public Services Minister Cina Lawson. The project is set to run over four weeks.
After the ministries of energy and tourism, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is among the latest to undergo digital transformation.
The project is structured around several pillars, including the rollout of connectivity infrastructure, the interconnection of services, and the digitization of internal processes. It also includes the introduction of email management systems and digital archiving systems to improve the flow of information across the administration.
At the government level, the broader objective is to strengthen public administration performance through digital technology.
A key component of the initiative focuses on capacity building, with more than 280 civil servants to be trained in cybersecurity practices and the use of digital tools. A data analysis unit is also planned to enable real-time performance monitoring and support policymaking.
The program also includes simplifying administrative procedures to make public services more accessible to the public.
For the foreign affairs minister, the shift is necessary in the context of broader public administration reform. “Digitalization is not simply an option for improvement, but a proven accelerator in achieving our country’s development objectives,” Dussey said.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo adopts draft law to reform competition and consumer protection
Togo is overhauling its competition and consumer protection framework with the Council of Ministers adopting a draft law on Wednesday to align regulations with recent economic developments.
The move comes as trade flows intensify, economic activity becomes increasingly digital, and the country deepens its commitments under WAEMU, ECOWAS and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The current framework, based on a 1999 law, is now considered ill-suited to market changes.
“It has become necessary to modernize the national legal framework applicable to competition and consumer protection,” the government said. The draft law aims to strengthen market rules while ensuring secure transactions.
The legislation guarantees freedom of trade and pricing while regulating anti-competitive practices. It specifically targets cartels, abuses of dominant position and mergers.
It also introduces measures to improve consumer information, enhance transaction transparency and combat unfair practices.
Institutionally, a national commission for competition and consumer protection will be created to ensure effective enforcement of the rules, according to an official statement.
The executive said the reform, which will be submitted to parliament, will strengthen confidence in markets. “The adoption of this text will help improve the transparency of economic relations, ensure secure commercial transactions and strengthen Togo’s attractiveness to investors,” the Council of Ministers said.
The reform is expected to support the competitiveness of the Togolese economy in an increasingly integrated and competitive regional environment.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo earmarks 8.3 bln CFA francs to expand school infrastructure in 2026
Togo will invest 8.3 billion CFA francs in classroom construction in 2026 as part of efforts to improve school infrastructure. According to the 2026 budget published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance in its Budget du citoyen, a simplified document outlining public finances, 4.55 billion CFA francs will fund the construction of 91 four-classroom blocks across the country.
The Plateaux region will receive the largest share with 28 blocks, followed by the Central region with 17, Kara with 10 and Savanes with 8. The Maritime region and Greater Lomé will each receive 14 blocks.
The remaining 3.8 billion CFA francs will go toward building 120 three-classroom blocks. Plateaux again accounts for the largest share with 52 blocks, ahead of the Maritime region with 25 and Greater Lomé with 11. The Central, Kara and Savanes regions will receive 14, 12 and 6 blocks, respectively.
These investments are part of broader efforts by the government to strengthen education infrastructure, with support from development partners including the World Bank through its Basic Education Quality and Equity Support Project (PAQEEB). In its 2020–2025 roadmap, the government set a target of building 30,000 classrooms.
In 2025, authorities said they completed 35 four-classroom blocks and 41 three-classroom blocks nationwide. The Ministry of National Education’s projected budget for 2026 stands at 212 billion CFA francs, up more than 15% from the 2025 projection of 183 billion CFA francs.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo sets up unit to advance rural land reform nationwide
Togo has established a dedicated unit to manage a land reform project aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, after a Cabinet decision on Wednesday.
The new structure is designed to continue work under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Program, a U.S.-funded initiative whose funding ended prematurely after a policy reversal by the Trump administration.
“The government has decided to ensure the gains are sustained under national management,” the Cabinet said.
The unit builds on results from several pilot zones, where innovative approaches were tested in land mapping, land rights registration and conflict prevention. To date, 2,645 hectares have been mapped and a number of longstanding disputes have been resolved.
The unit’s mandate will be to consolidate those gains and gradually extend the reforms nationwide. It is also expected to build on the tools and methodologies developed to strengthen land governance.
The announcement comes as secure land access remains a central challenge for agricultural development in Togo, where land disputes account for most court cases.
Clarifying land tenure rules is seen as essential not only to improving productivity, but also to attracting greater investment and reducing conflicts over land use.
The government said the structure will help strengthen land security in rural areas, improve access to agricultural land and create a more favourable environment for investment in the sector. The broader aim is to improve rural land management in line with the country’s agricultural transformation and economic development goals.
R.E.D
Lomé to host first Risk & Resilience Days as Togo seeks structured risk dialogue
The Association for Risk and Insurance Management of Togo (AMRAT) will host its first major forum, the Risk & Resilience Days, on April 16 in Lomé. The event will bring together bankers, insurers, risk management experts and regulators to address emerging risks, amid rising concerns from the National Credit Council over non-performing loans.
The forum addresses a question African financial institutions have faced for years, often without a structured response: how to manage risks whose nature and pace of emergence have changed significantly. Climate risks, cyber threats, geopolitical instability and rapid digital transformation have expanded the range of vulnerabilities, while management tools have often struggled to keep pace. This will be the focus of discussions on April 16.
AMRAT’s approach is primarily institutional: creating a permanent platform for dialogue between practitioners, policymakers and experts, drawing on the model of similar associations already active in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal and Madagascar. In this sense, the April 16 forum marks both the association’s launch and a technical platform for the sector.
“Togo needs a structured risk culture, embedded in institutional practices rather than handled on a case-by-case basis,” said Khalid Yacoubou Boukari, president of AMRAT, who holds certifications in strategic banking management from HEC Paris and in risk management from BCEAO-COFEB.
Recent data supports this view. At a meeting on March 23, the National Credit Council flagged concerns: the rate of doubtful loans stands at 8.1% in banks and 9.3% in microfinance institutions, well above the 3% threshold. In microfinance, non-performing loans have increased by 49.2% over three years. Minister Barcola has called for stronger risk management and loan recovery practices.
According to the organisers, the event is supported by the Association of Togolese Banks (APBEF), the Togolese Insurers’ Committee, AGET and the employers’ association (Patronat). The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo is sponsoring the event. FinConnect Financial Solutions is co-organising and contributing its expertise in the digital transformation of financial institutions across the continent.
AMRAT does not position itself as a purely national body. It is already affiliated with the African Federation of Risk Management Associations and with IFRIMA, the sector’s international federation.
Fiacre Kakpo
Togo to build 400 boreholes for irrigated market gardening
Togo’s risk-sharing agricultural financing program (ProMIFA) has launched a project to develop 400 boreholes and irrigated market gardening sites to boost agricultural production in rural areas.
Training workshops are being held this week through April 3, 2026, across several regions, including Maritime, Kara, Plateaux, Centrale and Savanes. The sessions aim to train technical advisers from the Institute for Advice and Technical Support (ICAT) in managing irrigation infrastructure.
The initiative seeks to organize community management of the facilities by involving local farmers throughout the process. Trained staff will identify stakeholders, assess organizational capacity and set up management committees for each site.
The program also uses digital tools, including the Kobo Collect application, to gather and process field data. The data will inform future phases of the project.
Officials say the initiative is expected to improve agricultural productivity, particularly during the dry season, while supporting job creation and higher rural incomes.
Amenunya Kokou Elolo, head of infrastructure and development at the rural development directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, said the development of market gardening sites under ProMIFA would enable farmers to significantly and sustainably increase dry-season output. He added that the project would help create jobs, raise rural incomes and improve food and nutritional security.
The construction of the 400 boreholes and related infrastructure forms part of the government’s strategy to modernize agriculture, reduce vulnerability to climate variability and improve food security.
ProMIFA is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It is one of the country’s main public instruments for financing and structuring agricultural enterprises.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Lomé hosts regional workshop on intellectual property and digital disputes
A regional workshop on intellectual property opened in Lomé on Tuesday, bringing together judges from Congo, Guinea and Togo to address the growing complexity of disputes arising from the modern digital economy.
Organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the session runs until April 7.
The workshop is part of a capacity-building program for judicial actors in the field of intellectual property. It aims to equip participants with a better grasp of core legal concepts, case law and international, regional and national legal frameworks, including the Bangui Agreement.
During the session, judges are expected to deepen their understanding of emerging challenges posed by digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The broader goal is to strengthen judicial expertise across the African continent.
"Your decisions will have a direct impact on the protection of creators, the promotion of innovation and the investment appeal of countries," Togolese Minister of Justice and Human Rights Pacôme Yawovi Adjourouvi said.
African courts continue to face growing complexity in intellectual property litigation, despite progress in the field. Those challenges require judges to sharpen their skills, according to the organizers.
For Denis Loukou Bohoussou, director general of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), the answer lies in a specialized and efficient judiciary. "The aim is to reassure investors, protect innovations and strengthen economic sovereignty," he said.
The initiative ultimately aims to train judges to handle intellectual property disputes effectively in a constantly evolving environment. The program aligns with efforts by Togolese authorities, who in recent years have stepped up initiatives to attract investors to the country.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo logs 165,000 citizenship certificate applications since digitisation
Togo's Justice Ministry has registered 165,657 citizenship certificate applications since the process was digitized in December 2024. The figures were presented Tuesday in Lomé as part of the government's broader push to modernize public services.
Of that total, 127,791 applications, or 77%, have already been processed, suggesting gradual adoption of the platform by users.
The system, available via the Service-Public platform, allows applicants to submit requests online and track their progress remotely, with the aim of cutting processing times and reducing the need for in-person visits.
"The aim is to improve service quality, cut processing times, reduce congestion in administrative offices and allow applicants to track their files, thereby improving efficiency," said Kobauyah Tchamdja Kpatcha, director of the Seal, Citizenship and Civil Identity department.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Around 17,311 applications require corrections, while several thousand others remain pending or unanswered. These delays are partly due to technical issues, including uneven internet connectivity across the country.
The use of intermediaries has also created challenges. In some cases, applicants do not receive notifications, slowing the process.
"The first difficulty is access to internet connectivity," said Ben Boko, the Justice Ministry's IT manager, adding that efforts are under way to improve the system.
In the near term, authorities plan to increase public awareness efforts and introduce new tools, including a digital archiving system, to improve data management and streamline procedures.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo plans fuel marking expansion after pilot improves tax revenue
Togo plans to extend its Automated Marking System (SAM) to petroleum products. The move follows the system’s earlier rollout across consumer goods and diesel, with technical and operational requirements approved Tuesday in Lomé by industry stakeholders.
The approval followed a pilot phase covering industrial diesel, which benefits from a 50% customs duty exemption and is used exclusively for non-road machinery. The rollout of fuel marking, expected by July 2026, aims to tighten regulation of a sector plagued by illegal imports, adulteration and the diversion of subsidized products.
The system is expected to strengthen market transparency, protect the formal economy, ensure consumers receive quality fuel and reduce environmental harm from high-sulfur products, said Esso-Wavana Adoyi, president of the Marking Commission.
During the session, authorities presented the system and its technical requirements. The technology, equipment and accredited testing laboratories are key to ensuring reliable and secure marking, Adoyi said. “Marking data must enable tracking of the distribution chain, from import or production to retail sale,” he added.
Adoyi said the pilot phase, limited to subsidized industrial diesel, led to an 8% increase in tax revenue. He said fuel marking is not only a technical tool but also an instrument to combat fraud and smuggling, secure state revenue and ensure products meet regional and international standards.
Togo deployed the SAM in 2020 to secure consumer products and improve tax collection. Between 2020 and 2025, the system generated about 35.8 billion CFA francs in revenue for the tax administration, according to the SAM Commission.
Esaïe Edoh