Togo’s National Assembly has adopted a new law to step up efforts to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The measure was passed during the budget session.

The law seeks to bring national legislation into line with recent international and regional standards. It replaces a 2018 statute by incorporating updated recommendations from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and a 2023 directive issued by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

The revised framework introduces a risk-based approach. It extends due diligence obligations to virtual asset service providers and strengthens identification requirements related to beneficial ownership.

Finance and Budget Minister Essowè Georges Barcola said the reform forms part of a national strategy to safeguard the integrity of the financial system. He said the adoption of this harmonised framework, which includes penalties, would help reduce the opacity of financial flows often linked to organised crime.

The government said the reform should ultimately improve transparency at a time of heightened regional security threats.

The legislative move comes as parliament prepares to close its budget session. Lawmakers have already approved a supplementary budget for 2025 and adopted the finance law for the 2026 fiscal year.

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Togo has revised the tax regime governing the West African Gas Pipeline, a key source of gas supply for the country.

The changes, enacted on Dec. 24, extend the tax exemption for pipeline operator West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) by five years, bringing the total exemption period to 10 years.

Under the new framework, WAPCo’s corporate tax rate is cut to 30% from 35%, aligning it with rates in other countries participating in the regional project. The law allows Togo to raise the rate if necessary, but caps it at 35%.

The national assembly approved the amendments to the pipeline’s legal and fiscal framework during a plenary session. Deputy Energy Minister Messan Eklo presented the bill to lawmakers.

Eklo said the changes were designed to ease WAPCo’s financial constraints, which have limited its ability to invest, and to reflect shifts in operating conditions. These include the opening of a second gas entry point at Takoradi in Ghana and an increase in the number of operators in the sector.

The amendments also give the West African Gas Pipeline Authority (WAPGA) regulatory oversight of gas shippers, in line with the network code.

The 678-kilometre pipeline, most of it offshore in the Gulf of Guinea, carries natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo and Ghana. Operations began after a treaty signed by the four countries in January 2003. The previous legal framework dated back to December 2004.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Togolese government has approved plans to transfer the mandate of its youth entrepreneurship support fund to the national small business development agency, as part of a broader overhaul of public support programmes for young entrepreneurs.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 24, ministers approved a bill transferring the functions of the Support Fund for Youth Economic Initiatives (FAIEJ) to the Agency for the Development of Very Small, Small and Medium Enterprises (ADTPME). The bill will now be submitted to parliament before the reform can take effect.

Under the proposal, all FAIEJ staff and assets will be transferred to the ADTPME. The government said the move is intended to streamline youth entrepreneurship support and align it with updated policy instruments aimed at boosting employment and private sector activity.

The executive said the reform seeks to reduce institutional overlap and improve the use of public resources by concentrating support on the most effective programmes. It is consistent with the rationale behind the creation of the ADTPME in 2022, which was designed to professionalise and better structure the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

By integrating FAIEJ’s operations into the ADTPME, the government aims to foster innovation among young entrepreneurs and promote business solutions tailored to local needs, particularly in the energy, health and agriculture sectors. The reform is also expected to improve coordination between businesses, universities, public institutions and incubators, strengthening support networks for start-ups.

Established in 2012, FAIEJ provides technical and financial assistance to youth-led micro-projects, including loans and guarantees. The fund says it created 26,309 jobs between its launch and the end of March 2024 and disbursed a total of 8.63 billion CFA francs in financing.

Esaïe Edoh

The Togolese government has begun reforming the legal framework governing civil society organisations and associations. The cabinet adopted a draft law on freedom of association on Dec. 24, according to an official statement.

The government said the proposed legislation aims to modernise the existing framework, strengthen legal certainty for associations, and balance freedom of association with requirements related to public order, security, transparency and accountability.

Authorities said the current framework, based on France’s 1901 law on associations, is outdated and no longer suited to present conditions. Details of the proposed changes remain unclear. The draft law will be submitted to parliament for debate.

The reform comes as civil society organisations in Togo expand, particularly in local development, humanitarian work, governance and social entrepreneurship.

Officials said the overhaul would align legislation with current institutional structures while improving financial transparency and oversight of organisations.

Associations play a growing economic role in Togo, frequently implementing projects funded by international donors. These initiatives support government efforts at the local level.

The government said that once passed by parliament, the law could be supplemented by implementing regulations, improving coordination between civil society, the state and donors.

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The 40th edition of the Lomé Commercial Fortnight, organized by the Togo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI-Togo), is open through January 4, 2026.

The official opening ceremony was held on December 23 under the chairmanship of the Minister of Economy and Strategic Monitoring, Badanam Patoki, while activities at the stands had already begun on December 18.

Held as a follow-up to the Lomé International Fair, the Commercial Fortnight focuses on very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The event allows businesses to clear inventories during the year-end holiday period, stimulate domestic demand, and engage directly with consumers, traders, and producers.

For this anniversary edition, several adjustments have been introduced. The number of exhibitors has risen to more than 200, up from around 150 in previous years. A dedicated “Made in Togo” area has been expanded, alongside the addition of a children’s play area and a new layout designed to improve visitor flow and commercial visibility. The introduction of an entry fee and the presentation of awards to partners also reflect efforts to further structure the event.

In his remarks, the minister highlighted the role of the private sector in driving economic growth, saying the Commercial Fortnight illustrates the adaptability of Togolese businesses.

CCI-Togo officials emphasized the importance of local processing and the promotion of domestic consumption, viewing trade fairs as short-term tools to support economic activity and boost revenues for local enterprises.

The event will continue until January 4, 2026.

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Togo’s National Assembly has approved a revised finance law for the 2025 fiscal year, following a majority vote during the fourth plenary session of the second ordinary session of the year.

The revised budget raises total state allocations to CFA2,436 billion, compared with CFA2,396.6 billion in the initial finance law. This represents an increase of CFA39.4 billion, equivalent to a 1.6% rise.

Finance and Budget Minister Essowè Georges Barcola, who appeared before lawmakers to defend the bill, said the revised budget is an adjustment instrument reflecting current economic realities. He said it aims to preserve fiscal balance while strengthening social priorities.

Under the new framework, social spending now absorbs more than half of total budget allocations, reflecting what the government describes as a stronger focus on investment in human capital and improved living conditions.

The additional resources will support continued measures to expand access to electricity, implement universal health insurance, and improve the quality of the education system. The revised budget also maintains productive investments, particularly those supporting job creation, with a focus on youth and women.

The government initially presented the revised budget to address a fiscal gap estimated at CFA145 billion, in a context marked by budget revenues revised downward by about 1% and higher spending, projected at CFA1,717.1 billion, an increase of 2.3%.

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