Togo First
Togo, Belarus discuss expanding cooperation in agriculture
Togo and Belarus to expand cooperation in agriculture. The terms of the partnership were discussed in Lomé during recent talks between Togo’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Resources and Food Sovereignty, Antoine Lekpa Gbegbeni, and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov.
Delegations from the two countries met on Monday, March 2, 2026, and agreed to develop a partnership covering agricultural mechanization, irrigation and access to fertilizers. The cooperation would also include the supply of seeds, the development of integrated livestock projects, research, and capacity building for agricultural sector stakeholders. These areas align with Togo’s strategy to modernize agriculture and transform the sector.
For Lomé, the collaboration could help accelerate the modernization of a sector that remains a key pillar of the national economy. Belarus has a well-developed engineering industry that manufactures tractors, agricultural machinery and mining equipment. It could therefore support the sector by providing equipment needed to intensify production and develop agro-industrial processing.
A draft memorandum of understanding is expected soon to formalize the cooperation framework. The Belarusian delegation also invited Togolese officials to take part in an international agricultural fair, where they would be able to visit agricultural equipment manufacturing plants and attend technical demonstrations.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo Among Top Five African Countries for Positive Perception of Russia
Nearly half of Togolese view Russia’s economic and political influence on their country as positive, according to Round 10 of the Afrobarometer 2024-2025 survey covering 38 African nations.
This places Togo in the upper tier of the continental ranking. However, it remains below levels recorded in several other West and Central African countries. A majority of Togolese aware of the Russia-Ukraine conflict also say their government should remain neutral.
A broadly positive but mixed perception
Specifically, 49% of respondents say Russia’s economic and political influence is “somewhat” or “very” positive. This ranks Togo fifth among the 38 countries surveyed, tied with Chad, Congo-Brazzaville and Guinea.
Togo remains well behind Mali, where positive perceptions reach 88%, and Cameroon at 60% — two countries where Russia has expanded its presence, particularly through security partnerships.
At the other end of the scale, Botswana (13%), Eswatini (14%) and Lesotho (14%) post the lowest figures.
The continental average stands at 36%, placing Togo above the African norm and broadly in line with several Francophone Sahelian and Central African states.
A further 9% of Togolese express a neutral view, while 27% say they have no opinion or decline to answer. Sixteen percent consider Russia’s influence negative.
However, an important qualification applies. Although perceptions of Russia in Togo exceed the continental average, they remain below those of other major external actors.
Across the 38 countries, China leads with 62% positive views. Regional organizations follow at 56%, the African Union at 55%, the United States at 52%, and the European Union at 50%. Russia, at 36%, ranks near the bottom behind India (39%) and France (41%). This pattern holds across much of the continent. While Russia benefits from notable support in countries such as Togo, it does not match the standing of long-established economic partners or multilateral institutions.
Limited awareness of the war in Ukraine
Only 54% of Togolese surveyed say they have heard of the Russia-Ukraine war, placing the country in the lower quartile of the ranking, tied with Chad.
The African average is 70%. Island states or countries with higher levels of information connectivity — including Cabo Verde (98%), Seychelles (94%) and São Tomé-et-Príncipe (91%) — report significantly higher awareness. Within West Africa, Ghana (72%) and Senegal (71%) show higher levels of awareness than Togo. Benin and Nigeria report similar figures at 49%.
Among Togolese aware of the conflict, 75% say their government should remain neutral, slightly above the continental average of 72%. Support for Russia stands at 16%, while only 3% back Ukraine.
This preference for neutrality is widespread across Africa. Mali is a notable exception, where 72% favor Russia, reflecting closer political and security ties between Bamako and Moscow. Neutrality also exceeds 75% in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Ayi Renaud Dossavi
Togo, Belarus formalise diplomatic visa exemption
Togo and Belarus have signed a mutual visa waiver agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports.
Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey and his Belarusian counterpart, Maxim Ryzhenkov, signed the agreement on March 2, 2026, in Lomé during Ryzhenkov’s first official visit to the country.
The deal follows a meeting between the two ministers in September 2025 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Both sides said the agreement is aimed at strengthening ties and expanding cooperation in sectors including industry and agriculture.
Relations between Lomé and Minsk remain limited but could gain momentum. Belarus has a strong mechanical engineering sector, producing tractors, agricultural machinery and mining equipment. It could therefore support Togo’s efforts to modernize its agriculture and advance industrial development. Since 2013, Belarus has accredited ambassadors to Togo, although they are based in other countries.
Togo Moves to Streamline Decentralized Services with New Administrative Forums
Local governance in Togo is entering a new phase in coordinating public policy implementation with the planned rollout of “administrative conferences.”
The initiative is led by the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Local Governance and Customary Affairs. It will initially be piloted in the Kara region. The project was the central focus of a meeting held in late February in Lomé.
The administrative conferences are intended to be gradually rolled out across all regions of the country. They will serve as a formal framework for coordinating decentralized state services. Specifically, they will function as a platform for consultation, planning, and monitoring policy implementation at the regional and prefectural levels.
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, the approach aims to ensure consistency across government sectors. It also seeks to establish systematic reporting from local levels to the central administration and to strengthen oversight of policy implementation.
“They must allow the State to speak with one voice and act in a coordinated manner throughout the territory,” said Minister Hodabalo Awaté.
According to the minister, the administrative conferences should become “a tool for preventing administrative breakdowns, an early warning mechanism, and a space for information sharing.” He added that they should also make government action more visible to the public.
The initiative comes two years after Togo took a new step in its decentralization process with the establishment of governorates in most economic regions, with the exception of the Centrale region. Authorities say it forms part of a broader, gradual transformation of the country’s territorial governance structure.
Esaïe Edoh
Togo seeks electrical expert for 20,000-unit affordable housing project
The Togolese government, through the CITAFRIC agency, has issued a call for expressions of interest to recruit an electrical engineer. The selected expert will support the Project Management Unit overseeing the construction of 20,000 affordable housing units.
The specialist will work on feasibility studies and primary road infrastructure. The assignment is funded by a grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB). Candidates must hold a master’s degree and have at least 10 years of experience designing electrical systems for large-scale residential developments.
Particular attention will be given to candidates’ experience in drafting technical specifications and managing projects financed by international donors.
The 20,000-unit housing project is part of the Togolese government’s roadmap. It aims to reduce the affordable housing deficit while easing congestion in central Lomé. Led by the Ministry of Urban Planning, the program is primarily being implemented at the Kpome Dalave site, which spans 1,177 hectares, as well as in Sagbado-Avoeme and Yokoe-Kopegan.
The project goes beyond housing construction, seeking to develop resilient and modern urban centers that meet strict standards for energy transition, sanitation and smart infrastructure.
Applications must be submitted by March 10, 2026. The recruitment signals the start of a critical technical phase aimed at securing the program’s energy infrastructure.
R.E.D
University of Lomé to Host First Togo Inventions and Innovations Fair
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Togo (CCI-Togo) will host the first Togo Inventions and Innovations Fair (F2I-Togo) from March 9 to 12, 2026, at the University of Lomé.
The event will coincide with the 7th CAMES Scientific Days, which are expected to draw around 1,000 researchers from Togo and abroad.
Organized by the Research and Innovation Commercialization Unit (UIRRI), the initiative aims to strengthen links between academic research and the market. It will focus on key sectors of the economy, including agrifood, renewable energy, health and artificial intelligence.
The fair will also feature a national competition, “M2I-Togo 2025.” Twelve finalist projects will be selected from all submissions. Applications close on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
After the jury’s deliberations, five winners will receive technical and financial support to help bring their solutions to market.
CCI-Togo says the initiative is intended to help commercialize locally developed patents and inventions.
In 2024, 45 researchers received training in intellectual property and project management, laying the groundwork for the ecosystem that CCI-Togo now plans to link with private investors through dedicated B2B meetings.
R.E.D
Togo extends state of emergency in Savanes amid persistent border threats
Togo’s National Assembly on Friday, Feb. 27, adopted a bill extending the state of emergency in the northern Savanes region for 12 months from March 13. The measure has been in place since June 2022.
The vote was attended by Economy and Strategic Oversight Minister Badanam Patoki and Security Minister Calixte Batossie Madjoulba. Government officials said the extension reflects ongoing terrorist threats along the country’s northern borders.
Authorities say the state of emergency allows defense and security forces to strengthen operations while increasing protection for civilians.
Lawmakers from the ruling majority also pointed to the region’s economic importance. The Savanes area is a key link in trade corridors used for regional transit.
Officials argue that maintaining public order is necessary to reassure investors and ensure the continuity of essential services, including health and education.
Territorial Administration Minister Colonel Hodabalo Awaté said the additional powers granted under the measure would be exercised in strict compliance with the rule of law. The bill will now be sent to the Senate for review before final adoption.
R.E.D.
AfDB commits €6.5 million to Saviu II fund targeting Togo and six other nations
The African Development Bank (AfDB) will support tech startups in Togo and across Francophone Africa after its Board approved a €6.5 million equity investment in the Saviu II fund on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, in Abidjan. The funding will target seed-stage technology companies, with a focus on West and Central Africa, including Togo.
The financing package includes €4.5 million in equity and a €2 million first-loss guarantee backed by the European Commission’s Boost Africa programme. The structure is designed to attract additional investment into companies with a strong digital focus.
Saviu II, the second fund managed by Saviu Partners, plans to invest at least 60% of its capital in seven Francophone countries: Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin, Senegal, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The strategy targets around 20 early-stage companies operating mainly in the B2B segment, with ticket sizes ranging from €500,000 to €3 million.
For Lomé’s digital ecosystem, the move is expected to increase the availability of early-stage capital from institutional investors. Beyond financing, the fund manager will provide operational support in business development and international expansion to help tech companies scale across the sub-region.
R.E.D.
Lomé to Host 7th CAMES Scientific Days, Drawing Over 1,000 Experts
Lomé will host the 7th Scientific Days of the African and Malagasy Council for Higher Education (CAMES) from March 9 to 12, 2026. Held under the auspices of the Council’s Presidency, the event is expected to bring together more than 1,000 participants, including ministers, academics and international experts from its 19 member states.
A key objective of the meeting is the adoption of a common research policy, according to the supervisory ministry. The initiative, first outlined in Bamako last January, aims to harmonize national strategies and reduce fragmentation in scientific research across the continent.
Created in 1968, CAMES seeks to narrow the region’s technological gap by pooling resources and academic expertise. Against a backdrop of intensifying global competition, the intergovernmental body aims to strengthen innovation as a driver of development and economic transformation.
The discussions will focus on resilience and inclusive development in Africa. The scientific programme features 981 papers, including 885 oral presentations and 96 posters, most of which will take place in person at the Palais des Congrès and the University of Lomé.
R.E.D
Togo plans new national rollout of insecticide-treated nets
Togolese health authorities have announced a nationwide campaign to distribute free insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in the coming weeks, with preparatory meetings already under way in several districts.
The sessions bring together health officials and local organizing committees to coordinate logistics and community outreach, with the aim of ensuring full household coverage.
This year’s campaign will introduce a digital tracking system. Tablets will be used to record household data in real time, assigning each household a unique identifier to streamline distribution and improve monitoring.
Authorities have not yet disclosed how many nets will be distributed. Last year, they announced that 530,742 nets would be made available nationwide.
The campaign is part of broader efforts to combat malaria in Togo, including the September 2025 rollout of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for children under five.
Esaïe Edoh