The Ministry of Higher Education of Togo announced on May 21 the opening of its scholarship program for final-year high school students interested in attending college in  Morocco.

The initiative, set up in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), is part of ongoing bilateral educational cooperation between the two countries.

Eligible candidates must have achieved a “Bien” (Good) or higher grade in the first part of the Baccalauréat examination (BAC I) and be under 23 years old. The scholarships cover the 2025-2026 academic year and are available across all general education streams.

Interested applicants must apply no later than May 30, 2025, at 5 PM. Applications must be submitted to the Direction des bourses et stages (Directorate of Scholarships and Internships–DBS) in Lomé.

The program has been renewed regularly over several years. It aims to enhance national capacity by training talented students at Moroccan universities.

For more details, applicants are encouraged to consult the official announcement.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

A documentary film shot in Togo, The Soul of Africa, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, marking the West African nation’s first official participation in the prestigious event.

Directed by Egyptian-Senegalese filmmaker Gabriel Souleykan and co-produced with Acofin Productions, the film was screened at the festival’s Afriques Pavilion. It was filmed during the 10th Festival des Divinités Noires in Glidji and Aného, Togo, in January 2025.

The Soul of Africa explores pre-colonial African spiritual traditions, highlighting their resilience amid ongoing religious and cultural changes across the continent.

The screening preceded a roundtable focused on preserving Africa’s intangible cultural heritage. The Togolese delegation was led by King Ari Akouvi, King of the Kpessi.

The film’s appearance at Cannes showcased Togo’s natural landscapes and cultural richness. However, it also brought attention to challenges facing the country’s film industry, including financing and developing creative value chains necessary to expand its influence regionally and internationally.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

In Togo, the government has halved deposit fees for candidates in the upcoming local elections scheduled for July 10.

The country’s leader, Faure Gnassingbé, announced the reduction on May 21. Male candidates are now required to pay CFA25,000. Female candidates now pay half that amount–CFA12,500. Before the cut, they had to pay CFA50,000 and CFA25,000, respectively.

The Ministry of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Traditional Chieftaincy recommended the cut following consultations with various stakeholders under the Permanent Framework for Dialogue and Consultation (CPDC).

According to the authorities, the cut will boost the participation of women and young candidates, an underrepresented group in local government.

Political parties have also requested increasing public funding for election campaigns, currently set at CFA500 million, but the government has yet to respond.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

A new modern sports complex has been inaugurated in the Agoè-Nyivé 4 municipality on May 21, 2025. The complex was built under the third phase of the Lomé Urban Environment Project (PEUL III). The District Autonome du Grand Lomé (DAGL), which steered the project, handed over the facility to local authorities.

The French Development Agency (FDA) financed the complex with CFA750 million. The facility spans 1.5 ha and includes sports fields for volleyball, handball, basketball, and tennis, as well as multi-purpose areas for shows, exhibitions, and community events. There are also gymnastics facilities, running tracks, jumping areas, children’s playgrounds, and administrative buildings, including a management office, store, and infirmary.

DAGL officials said the complex aims to promote sports among youth and strengthen social cohesion in local communities. DAGL Governor Zouréhatou Kassah-Traoré commented: “Recognizing sport as a vehicle for social integration par excellence and a major educational pillar, the District is supporting several sporting initiatives throughout its territory, in collaboration with civil society organizations and sports federations.”

France’s ambassador to Togo, Augustin Favereau, welcomed the project’s social and environmental benefits. “We place people, the environment, and inclusion through sport at the heart of our action. Together with our partners in the European Union, we are reaffirming our shared commitment to supporting projects of this kind,” he said.

A similar sports complex funded under PEUL III is already operational in the Golfe 1 commune, also coordinated by the District of Greater Lomé.

This article was initially published in French by Esaie Edoh

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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The Port Autonome de Lomé (PAL) has launched a new mobile money payment system for entrance tickets. The news, revealed on May 22, stresses that the payment system operates through two partner platforms: Mixx by YAS and Coris Money.

The move, steered by the Ministry of Coastal Protection, aims to streamline administrative procedures and increase transparency in port operations.

With the new system, users can pay entry fees at port kiosks using their mobile phone numbers. They receive a notification to confirm the transaction, after which a digital ticket is generated and stored on their device alongside the traditional paper ticket.

“Even if you lose the physical ticket, you have everything on your phone,” said Catherine Savery, Director of Mixx by YAS.

Abdel Biaou, Director of Digital Banking at Coris Bank, highlighted the system’s efficiency, stating that payments can be completed securely in under three minutes.

Rear Admiral Fogan Kodjo Adegnon, General Manager of the port, described the move as a “strategic turning point” that will help the port become more competitive and align with international standards.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English byAnge Jason Quenum

Lomé has allocated CFA4 billion to the country’s first Regional Councils, established earlier this year as part of ongoing decentralization efforts. Koumtchané Siangou, Technical Secretary for the management of the Fonds d'appui aux collectivités territoriales (FACT), announced the funding on May 21 during a press briefing in Lomé.

FACT mobilized this funding to help the new regional councils start operations. The money will pay for staff salaries, councilor allowances, and the costs of setting up decentralized regional administrations. 

The government will also use these resources to launch the first major investments in the regions. These projects aim to boost local economic development and support the government’s vision to turn regions into growth poles.

The CFA4 billion from the state is just the start; local authorities must add their resources and attract support from technical and financial partners.

Since the regional councils took office, FACT has reserved a dedicated share for them. For 2025, the national budget allocates CFA10 billion FCFA to FACT. The fund receives money from the state, rebates from the  Togolese Revenue Office, and contributions from international partners.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Edited in English byAnge Jason Quenum

The Golfe 7 municipality in Lomé, Togo, is drafting a Municipal Development Plan (PDC) to steer local development over the next five years. The plan will establish a strategic framework for participatory budgeting and development.

A workshop was held on May 20 in the capital to kick off the process. The meeting brought together elected officials, civil society representatives, technical partners, and experts. 

At the opening of the workshop, Mayor Aimé Dikounou declared: “Our ambition is to build a community that is resilient, supportive, and focused on sustainable development.”

The PDC will address nine priority areas outlined by Togo’s decentralization law, including urban planning, environment, sanitation, water, education, and participatory governance.

Consultant Paul Amégakpo said the process will rely on a participatory diagnosis to identify local priorities, estimate costs, and develop programs with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Once approved, the plan will guide public and private investments and help mobilize resources to improve living conditions.

The project is part of the EU-funded Projet d'Appui au Dialogue entre Citoyens et Élus sur les Politiques Publiques dans la Commune de Golfe 7 (PADCEP-Golfe7), which aims to strengthen dialogue between citizens and elected officials.

Golfe 7, also known as Aflao Sagbado, is located northwest of Lomé and comprises 26 villages with a population of over 100,000.

With this initiative, Golfe 7 joins 63 other communes in Togo that have adopted Municipal Development Plans amid a national push for improved territorial planning and local governance.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum

Six West African countries are meeting in Lomé, Togo, to strengthen cooperation against illegal fishing in the Gulf of Guinea, a region vital to local economies and food security.

Representatives from Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria gathered on May 19 for a three-day summit organized by the West Central Gulf of Guinea Fisheries Committee (CPCO). The meeting aimed to develop coordinated measures to address the economic and environmental damage caused by unauthorized fishing vessels, including many foreign ships.

Illegal fishing has led to significant economic losses, job cuts, and the degradation of marine ecosystems across the region. To tackle these challenges, CPCO members are considering the establishment of a regional register of authorized vessels. This tool would centralize data, harmonize enforcement efforts, and enable real-time monitoring of fishing activities.

The committee also discussed implementing a strict biological rest period to allow fish stocks to recover.

“It was time to draw up a regional fisheries regime based on a common roadmap,” said CPCO advisor Kossi Ahoedo.

During the meeting, Togo emphasized its commitment to leading the initiative to ensure the sustainable economic development of its coastal zones.

The meeting ended on May 21.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum