Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé has appointed 20 senators, completing the Senate's composition as the second chamber of parliament. The announcement, made by presidential decree on March 5, 2025, follows recent senatorial elections dominated by the ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, which secured 34 of the 41 available seats.

This development marks a step toward Togo’s Fifth Republic and a transition to a parliamentary system, granting more powers to the legislature.

The 20 appointed senators include political figures from various parties, former MPs, and senior civil servants. The full list is as follows:

• Mrs. ABOUGNIMA K. Molgah
• Mr. AKOUETE Yaovi Beliki
• Mr. ALIPUI Sénanu Koku
• Mr. AZIABLE Koami N'kunu
• Mrs. BALOUKI-LEGUEZIM Bernadette
• Mrs. BATIKRANA Kpenta wife of BALAKA
• Mr. BOURAÏMA Inoussa
• Mrs. DANGBUIE Afi Xolali Pascaline
• Mrs. DJIDONOU Akpénè
• Mr. JOHNSON Togbé Ampah
• Mr. KABOUA Essokoyo Abass
• Mr. KAGBARA Uleija Y. M. Innocent
• Mr. KOFFIGOH Kokou Joseph
• Mr. KOLANI Lardja
• Mrs. KOUVAHEY Amoko Holadem
• Mrs. KPEGBA Kafui
• Mrs. LAMBONI-KABISSA Issoyotou
• Mrs. SANKAREDJA Moni, wife of SINANDJA
• Mrs. SANT’ANNA Edwige Clara Ayawovi widow of AYAYI-ATAYI
• Mr. TCHASSONA Traoré Mouhamed

The next steps include the senators assuming their roles, electing the Senate President, and selecting the President of the Council of Ministers and the President of the Republic.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

The Togolese branch of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), formerly Bolloré Transport & Logistics, has added 10 new Terberg tractors to its fleet. The vehicles came in this week.

The new tractors are designed to handle trailers and containers efficiently over short distances. They will help streamline transport operations, reduce delays, and improve efficiency compared to traditional trucks. These vehicles will operate at the Lomé terminal, optimizing the flow of goods and increasing the port's productivity.

AGL highlighted on social media that the new rolling stock, a valuable asset, will improve coordination between the port and industrial sectors.

Their acquisition reflects AGL’s focus on innovation and modernization. The company aims to make the Port of Lomé more competitive, in line with Togo’s ambition to become a leading logistics hub in West Africa.

Esaïe Edoh

Pascal Mawuli Kové is the new boss of COFINA-Togo, the Togolese arm of COFINA Group, a mesofinance company. Earlier this week, Kové, a Togolese, met with Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé. 

COFINA has been operating in Togo since 2020 and now holds over CFA30 billion in major loans. With more than 200 employees, it is the second-largest mesofinance institution in the country, following SOGEMEF. The company plans to expand its financial services and continue growing.

Pascal Mawuli Kové stated, "Our main focus is financing the local economy by supporting Togolese entrepreneurs with tailored solutions. We will step up on the recruiting and training front, through our Academy of Excellence." He emphasized that the subsidiary is working to establish a strong presence in Togo.

Kové previously worked at COFINA’s branch in Dakar, Senegal, where he contributed his expertise in strategy and finance. In Togo, he takes the place of Marcel Djigbé.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

The National Assembly of Togo has extended the state of security emergency in the Savanes region for another year. It is now set to last until March 2026. On Thursday, March 6, 2025, lawmakers approved the government’s request for this extension.

This is the fourth time the emergency state has been extended since first declared in June 2022. It was previously extended in September 2022, April 2023, and March 2024. Authorities have justified the move by citing persistent security threats in northern Togo.

Officials have explained that the extension allows the government to adapt its response to evolving threats and continue efforts to protect people and property. The measure also aims to maintain public order and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.

The Savanes region has been facing attacks from armed terrorist groups since November 2021. 

The Gnassingbé administration held this week a meeting to review its flood risk management strategy, amidst recurring floods in the Greater Lomé area.

The meeting gathered Prime Minister Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé and key stakeholders. They assessed actions implemented last year and planned those to be taken this year.

CFA1.7 Billion Allocated for 2024 Flood Preparedness and Response Plan

Last year, around CFA1.7 billion was mobilized for the Flood Preparedness and Response Plan (FRP). External partners provided CFA1.69 billion and the government CFA50 million. 

Of the 38 actions planned under the Response Plan 37 were successfully implemented. They included evaluating sites to receive disaster victims, acquiring pumping equipment, conducting public awareness campaigns through media and local outreach, and maintaining water drainage systems.

Preventive Measures for 2025

For 2025, the government has earmarked 26 new actions to minimize flood risks: upgrading urban drainage infrastructure, enhancing drainage system capacity, and expanding public awareness initiatives, among others.

The government plans to establish a special committee to coordinate these actions, efficiently. 

PM Tomégah-Dogbé called for citizen engagement in the government’s efforts.

Togo should soon receive CFA17 billion from the Green Climate Fund via the West African Development Bank (BOAD) to tackle the flood issue. 

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi 

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) will soon boost its African industrial park investments, particularly in Togo. The firm recently secured a $450 million commitment from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).

In detail, $300 million will help bolster existing parks, including Togo’s Industrial Platform of Adétikopé (PIA), and launch new projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Chad, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire. The remaining $150 million will help build an industrial park in Malawi and bolster agricultural export activities.

The $450 million investment is part of a broader $800 million initiative to boost African industrialization.

"This $450 million facility represents a major step forward in supporting Africa's industrialization efforts," said Arvind Arora, Treasury Director of ARISE IIP. "This financing covers critical working capital and capital expenditure requirements in various countries, addressing the diverse needs of industrial development."

Last year, many major global shipping firms joined the PIA in Togo. They include MSC (Italy-Switzerland), MAERSK (Denmark), CMA CGM (France), PIL (Singapore), and ONE (Japan). However, most (around 60%) of the companies on the site are regional and local; they operate in various sectors, such as textiles, agrifood, and pharmaceuticals.

This article was initially published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho

Last week, Togo approved two new management guides on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The documents were validated on February 28 in Kpalimé. They are expected to help better diagnose and treat skin diseases in Togo, especially in its rural parts. 

This effort is part of a project titled "Improving the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cutaneous NTDs in Togo Using Information and Communication Technologies." The Togolese Society of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Infections (SOTODERM) leads the project with support from the German Association for the Fight Against Leprosy and Tuberculosis (DAHW) and the Togolese Ministry of Health. The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) funds the program. 

The guides provide health workers with descriptions of skin conditions, screening methods, and treatment protocols tailored to local needs. Dr. Gnossikè Piham, who leads Togo's National NTD Programme, said these tools will expand care access in remote areas.

Prof. Picthé Palokinam, SOTODERM's chairman, lauded the partners' dedication and highlighted the guides' importance in addressing NTDs, a major health issue in West Africa.

SOTODERM recently launched a teledermatology project to support areas with high skin disease rates. This initiative allows remote diagnosis and medical follow-ups to improve care in rural regions.

The Togolese public e-services platform recently welcomed three new options. The options were integrated by the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCy). 

Effectively, the platform’s users can now submit, online, applications for qualifying service providers and security products, and directly request approvals from assessment centers. They can also track their applications in real time and communicate with ANCy using a built-in chat tool. The move falls under the government’s efforts to modernize public administration while addressing the need for secure online transactions in a world increasingly reliant on digital tools.

Launched in 2021, the ANCy was set up to regulate and secure digital activities in Togo.