Lome will host another meeting on Jan. 17 focused on the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as efforts continue to ease tensions in the Great Lakes region.

The talks follow a peace agreement signed by Rwanda and the DRC in Washington in November 2025, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Discussions in Lome will cover political coordination, regional security, de-escalation mechanisms, humanitarian assistance and economic integration. Congolese media outlets said the meeting is expected to help revive the peace process, even as relations remain strained between Kinshasa and Kigali despite the agreement.

The meeting will be held under the leadership of Faure Gnassingbe, head of Togo’s Council and the African Union’s designated mediator for the Great Lakes crisis. For Lome, the summit offers another opportunity to bolster its standing as a diplomatic actor in regional conflict resolution.

Togo had previously played a role in October 2025, when it co-organized a similar meeting with France in Paris focused on addressing the region’s prolonged humanitarian crisis and exploring pathways toward lasting peace. At the time, Gnassingbe called for an integrated African-led approach centered on development and the rebuilding of aid mechanisms.

Esaïe Edoh

Recognized at the Blue Invest Forum in Lomé, the company led by Dr. Ahama Kplolali and Kokoevi Agbevenou-Dovi (MSc) is developing a technology that combines fish farming with vegetable production. Through this model, known as aquaponics, the promoters aim to establish a 3,000-square-meter commercial farm in the Togolese capital.

Climate disruption as the starting point for an entrepreneurial project

In 2020, a late-season drought destroyed the tomato crops of the Ahama family in the municipality of Noepe. In response to this loss, Dr. Ahama Kplolali, a plant physiologist and biotechnologist, was tasked by her father with finding an agricultural solution that would not depend on climatic conditions.

According to the co-founder of Aquaponie du Togo, the objective was to identify a viable crop system independent of seasons and rainfall. This search led her toward soilless farming technologies, and more specifically aquaponics, a system that combines aquaculture and hydroponics.

A scientific partnership built around an emerging technology

Ahama Kplolali then reached out to Kokoevi Agbevenou, her former classmate at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lomé, who later specialized in plant biosciences after completing a master’s degree in France with a focus on microbiology and agrobioscience. Agbevenou says she quickly joined the project given the importance of the technology, at a time when aquaponics was still relatively under-documented, even at the international level.

The two researchers devoted three years to studying the concept before moving toward implementation. According to Agbevenou, they started from scratch due to the limited availability of technical references. The system is based on a closed-loop ecosystem in which fish waste serves as a natural fertilizer for plants, while the plants filter the water before it is returned to the fish tanks.

A self-financed operational prototype

In November 2023, Aquaponie du Togo installed its first operational system on a 40-square-meter site in Adidogomé-Yokoe, a neighborhood in Lomé. The project was financed through three sources: the founders’ personal savings, support from the French NGO KYNAROU, and backing from Apromafriq Pharma.

The prototype demonstrated its commercial viability through a short supply chain model.

“People come to buy directly from us,” Agbevenou says. Demand has even exceeded available production, both for fish and for vegetables, according to the founders. This early market validation encouraged the entrepreneurs to consider scaling up to an industrial level.

The company currently offers three services: producing and selling fish and vegetables, designing and installing aquaponics kits, and providing training in the technology.

International recognition at the Blue Invest Forum

In October 2025, Aquaponie du Togo presented its 3,000-square-meter commercial farm project at the Blue Invest Forum organized in Lomé by the European Union. The Togolese initiative stood out in the aquaculture category and won the award for best pitch.

“I was the only one selected in Togo,” Ahama Kplolali said, noting that she represented the company at the event. She added that both the initiative itself and the training program that preceded the forum “opened doors.”

“It gave us credibility. People realized this was not a hobby, but a serious project that really provides solutions,” the researcher and entrepreneur said.

This recognition has drawn the attention of institutional stakeholders, including the supervising ministry…

Persistent structural obstacles

Despite these advances, the transition from a prototype to a commercial-scale farm faces several constraints. Financing remains the main challenge. “We are still struggling to secure funding, partnerships, and technical support to launch this 3,000-square-meter commercial aquaponics farm project,” Ahama Kplolali says.

Access to urban land is another major constraint. In Lomé, real estate pressure and high land prices make it difficult to identify sites suitable for a large-scale aquaponics installation. The founders are looking for a location that can accommodate their infrastructure while maintaining proximity to urban consumers.

The regulatory environment adds another layer of complexity. Aquaponics, a hybrid technology at the crossroads of agriculture and aquaculture, does not fit easily into existing regulatory frameworks. “Authorities need to understand this technology better in order to regulate it more effectively,” Kokoevi notes.

A final logistical challenge lies in sourcing specialized inputs. Some of the equipment and materials required for aquaponics are not available locally, making imports necessary and increasing initial investment costs.

A regional expansion strategy

Beyond the Lomé project, Aquaponie du Togo is pursuing broader expansion ambitions. “We are considering not only expanding within Togo’s regions, but also establishing operations in the sub-region. We could start with Benin or Burkina Faso,” one of the co-founders says, targeting areas facing similar climate-related challenges.

This vision is paired with an educational component. The entrepreneurs plan to organize awareness sessions in Togolese schools. “Our children in Togo need to be familiar with this innovative agricultural technology, which directly addresses the climate challenges we are facing,” Kokoevi argues.

The proposed business model combines commercial production with technology transfer. The objective is to make aquaponics accessible to urban households while developing a supply of fresh, organic products through short distribution channels.

Call for financial and institutional partners

“It should not stop here. We are really calling on all organizations, public institutions, NGOs, and even the government to support us so that the project can come to life,” Ahama Kplolali says, as the two co-founders issue a direct appeal to public institutions, NGOs, and private investors.

The symbolic dimension of the project is not lost on them. “We are two women entrepreneurs in the green sector,” Ahama Kplolali notes, in an entrepreneurial ecosystem where female-led initiatives in agritech remain in the minority.

The financial needs, which have not been publicly quantified, relate to core infrastructure, including greenhouses, fish tanks, filtration systems, climate control equipment, and hydraulic installations. The investment must also cover the initial working capital required to support the production cycle before the first sales are generated.

Development outlook and stakes

The aquaponics model developed by the Togolese company fits into a broader global search for agricultural alternatives in response to climate constraints. In West Africa, where rainfall variability affects food security, such systems offer significant adaptation potential, according to the founders.

The competitive advantage of the model rests on several factors: water savings estimated at 90% compared with conventional agriculture, year-round production independent of seasons, the absence of chemical pesticides, and optimized land use in dense urban environments.

That said, commercial success will depend on Aquaponie du Togo’s ability to structure its supply chain, standardize production processes, and build a recognized brand in the Togolese market. The company will also need to address the challenge of training qualified staff to operate the technical installations, alongside a growing base of private users.

“This is not an impossible model. It is truly achievable, and we know where we are going,” Dr. Ahama Kplolali concludes. The coming months will determine whether this scientific conviction can secure the financial and institutional backing needed for industrial-scale deployment in Lomé.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

• Togo retains its position as West Africa’s top-ranked economy for business climate in the B-Ready 2025 report with a score of 61.52.
• The country ranks third in sub-Saharan Africa, behind Rwanda and Mauritius.
• Strong performance reflects regulatory reforms, while trade and competition remain weaker areas.

Togo confirmed its reform momentum by retaining its position as West Africa’s top performer in the Business Ready (B-Ready) 2025 ranking of business climates.

The country also ranked third in sub-Saharan Africa with an overall score of 61.52 points, according to the latest edition of the report published in late December 2025.

In the inaugural 2024 edition of B-Ready, which replaced the former Doing Business report suspended after governance irregularities, Togo had already secured first place in West Africa.

In the new ranking, Togo outperformed Benin and Ghana in West Africa. Benin ranked second with 60.2 points, while Ghana ranked third with 56.8 points. In sub-Saharan Africa, Togo ranked behind Rwanda and Mauritius, which recorded scores of 67.9 points and 63.2 points, respectively.

A New Framework for Business Climate Assessment

The B-Ready ranking relies on a survey of 58,000 companies and 5,000 experts across 101 economies. The assessment covers ten key stages of a firm’s life cycle, from business entry to insolvency.

The framework rests on three pillars: regulatory framework, quality of public services, and operational efficiency. To better reflect real business experience, the methodology combines legal indicators with practice-based indicators.

Togo recorded a score of 66.26 points on the regulatory framework pillar, which stood close to the average of assessed countries. The country posted an intermediate score on public service quality.

Togo recorded 57.38 points on operational efficiency, which highlighted remaining gaps in compliance costs and administrative delays.

Uneven Sectoral Performance

By category, Togo stood out on the business entry indicator with a score of 85.77 points. This performance aligned with reforms that simplified company registration procedures.

The report also showed solid results in employment, financial services, and insolvency indicators. However, international trade and competition indicators lagged behind other areas.

At the continental level, Rwanda retained first place in the B-Ready 2025 ranking. Morocco ranked second, while Mauritius ranked third. Togo placed fourth overall in Africa.

Before the suspension of Doing Business, Togo had already ranked among Africa’s most reform-oriented economies. The country recorded significant progress between 2018 and 2020.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Togo appoints former minister Kanka-Malik Natchaba as chief executive of airport operator SALT.
• Natchaba replaces Brigadier General Dimini Allaharé after previously leading SALT from 2016 to 2017.
• The government tasks the new chief with modernizing Lomé’s airport to strengthen its regional logistics hub ambitions.

Togo has appointed Kanka-Malik Natchaba as chief executive officer of Société Aéroportuaire de Lomé-Tokoin (SALT), the state-owned company that manages the country’s main airport.

The former minister of higher education and research replaces Brigadier General Dimini Allaharé, who served as chief of staff of the Togolese Armed Forces.

This appointment marks a return for Natchaba, who previously led SALT between 2016 and 2017.

After his first term at SALT, Natchaba joined the presidency as minister delegate and coordinator of the Presidential Unit for the Execution and Monitoring of Priority Projects.

He later served as minister and secretary general of the government from October 2020 to September 2023.

The government appointed him minister of higher education in August 2024 before reassigning him to the airport authority.

Because Natchaba previously managed the airport operator and handled priority projects at the presidency, he is expected to quickly reassert control of the institution.

The government expects him to advance Lomé’s strategy to strengthen its position as a regional logistics hub by leveraging the capital’s airport platform.

In this role, the new chief executive will oversee the modernization of infrastructure at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport.

The airport currently plays a central role in West African connectivity, particularly through operations by ASKY Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines.

This article was initially published in French by R.E.D

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Orabank will shut four branches in Togo on February 28, 2026.
• The closures follow earlier branch shutdowns in 2023 and 2025 amid restructuring.
• Oragroup posted a record profit of CFA18.3 billion in the first half of 2025.

In Togo, Orabank will close four branches as part of a new round of network rationalisation, according to statements published by the Togolese subsidiary of pan-African banking group Oragroup.

Orabank said branches located in Assahoun, Mango, Kégué and on Boulevard des Armées in Lomé will cease operations from February 28, 2026. The bank disclosed the information through official notices seen by Togo First.

This move does not mark the first branch reduction by the lender. In March 2025, Orabank closed two agencies in Lomé and Sotouboua, following several shutdowns already carried out in 2023.

However, the bank did not provide specific details this time regarding the reasons behind the decision. By contrast, in 2023, Orabank said it implemented similar measures as part of a broader restructuring plan.

At the same time, market observers continue to recall that, according to information reported by Togo First in 2022, Oragroup was engaged in a takeover process, with Burkina Faso–based Vista Bank identified as a potential buyer.

As the latest closures approach at the end of February, public attention remains focused on the bank’s strategy, amid persistent questions over its longer-term positioning in Togo.

Meanwhile, Oragroup reported a record profit of CFA18.3 billion for the first half of 2025, underscoring solid financial performance despite the ongoing reduction of its physical network.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Novarea Textile and Togo Apparels Source joined the Adétikopé Industrial Platform as new textile-sector investors.
• The two projects are expected to create around 1,800 direct jobs in textile processing and garment manufacturing.
• The investments strengthen Togo’s strategy to develop local textile transformation and export-oriented industries.

Togo’s Adétikopé Industrial Platform welcomed two new investors from the textile sector, Novarea Textile and Togo Apparels Source (TAS), according to information released by the platform.

The PIA said the two companies should eventually generate around 1,800 direct jobs, mainly in textile processing and garment manufacturing activities.

The two companies plan to launch operations in the coming months at the PIA site, located about 15 kilometers north of Lomé. They will benefit from the platform’s integrated infrastructure, which includes logistics facilities, on-site customs services, and direct access to port and road transport corridors.

Novarea Textile recently completed a restructuring following the sale of shares to Mauritian investor OGL Textiles. The transaction was finalized in October 2025. The company already operates in neighboring Benin through a similar industrial platform project.

Togo Apparels Source positions itself in garment manufacturing with a business model naturally oriented toward export markets.

The Adétikopé Industrial Platform covers about 400 hectares and hosts industries active in textiles, agro-processing, and construction materials. The Togolese government is developing the integrated platform in partnership with Arise IIP.

The initiative aims to increase the local processing or semi-processing of key cash crops, including cotton and soybeans, as part of Togo’s broader industrialization strategy.

R.E.D

• Togo adopted the 2026 finance law on Dec. 29, 2025, to strengthen revenue mobilization.
• The law introduces certified electronic invoicing and new sector-specific taxes and exemptions.
• The 2026 budget rises 14.4% to CFA2,740.5 billion, with revenue collection led by OTR.

Togo adopted its 2026 finance law on Dec. 29, 2025, and introduced several fiscal innovations aimed at strengthening revenue mobilization. The law also signals a shift toward more targeted economic and social tax objectives.

Strengthening Compliance and Revenue Collection

Among the measures introduced this year, the government implemented certified electronic invoicing. This mechanism aims to strengthen transaction traceability and combat tax fraud, particularly related to value-added tax. The certified electronic invoice also seeks to improve transaction transparency and facilitate tax audits in the formal sector.

In a similar effort, the state introduced a final withholding tax of 5% on winnings from betting and games of chance when the amount per bet exceeds CFA500,000. Authorities have already brought this measure into force.

Targeted Support for Productive Sectors

On the fiscal support front, the 2026 finance law grants a VAT exemption on feed and supplements used for local livestock and fisheries products. Parliament said the measure aims to reduce input costs and support animal production.

In parallel, the law introduces an export tax on cashew nuts, soybeans, and shea nuts. Authorities aim to curb exports of raw agricultural products and encourage local processing.

Inclusion Measures and Asset Tax Adjustments

On the social front, the law grants a non-refundable tax credit of CFA120,000 per employee per year to companies that hire persons with disabilities. The law also simplifies the registration of public procurement contracts reserved for young and women entrepreneurs by allowing deferred payment of registration fees.

In addition, the government applied a proportional duty of 3.5% on value increases resulting from property revaluation requests. This measure reflects an adjustment of the tax framework to evolving asset values.

For 2026, the government balanced the budget in revenue and expenditure at CFA2,740.5 billion, marking a 14.4% increase from 2025. Authorities assigned a central role to the Togolese Revenue Authority (OTR) in mobilizing the resources required to finance these objectives.

The state-owned agency has delivered results that authorities consider encouraging. In 2025, the government tasked OTR with mobilizing about CFA1,200 billion, representing an annual increase of 8%. By the end of September, OTR had collected nearly CFA830.5 billion.

R.E.D

• Golfe 5 municipality approved a balanced 2026 budget of CFA1.45 billion in late December 2025.
• The commune allocated about CFA1.1 billion to operating expenses and CFA328 million to investment.
• Local authorities prioritized basic infrastructure, roads, sanitation, and green space rehabilitation.

In Togo, the Golfe 5 municipality, located in Greater Lomé, approved its 2026 draft budget with revenues and expenditures balanced at CFA1.45 billion. The municipal council adopted the budget in late December 2025 during its fourth ordinary session.

From this total envelope, the municipality allocated nearly CFA1.1 billion to operating expenses, while it earmarked about CFA328 million for investment spending. The allocation reflects the commune’s focus on maintaining day-to-day operations while supporting targeted development projects.

For 2026, the municipal administration plans several priority actions, including the construction and equipping of basic social and educational infrastructure. In addition, the administration identified road maintenance, green space rehabilitation, and sanitation operations as key intervention areas.

More specifically, the municipality expects road maintenance and development works to address the advanced deterioration of certain roads and to improve mobility conditions for local residents.

To ensure effective resource mobilization, Golfe 5 Mayor Kossi Agbényega Aboka urged all municipal councilors to sustain financial mobilization efforts in order to meet public expectations.

He also encouraged council members to commit fully to implementing the planned actions during the current term. “The populations expect results from us; we must work rigorously to meet their demands,” he said.

This article was initially published in French by Esaïe Edoh

Adapted in English  by Ange Jason Quenum