Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, Prime Minister of Togo, recently met with Hélèna Maria José Nosolini Embalo, the new President of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (CCR-UEMOA). The women discussed the CCR's strategic orientations for the next three years.

During the meeting, held on May 23, Nosolini Embalo outlined her mandate's main challenges, including promoting community entrepreneurship, developing the private sector, and stimulating economic and social development within the UEMOA region. She emphasized the importance of government support to achieve these goals.

PM Tomegah-Dogbé expressed support for these initiatives, highlighting their significance in strengthening the competitiveness of the private sector and increasing regional trade.

The CCR-UEMOA was established in January 1994. It represents private sector actors across the Union. Its main mission is to ensure the private sector’s effective involvement in the Union's integration process.

Togo's Energy Minister, Mila Aziable, addressed the media in Lomé on May 25 regarding the current energy crisis and power supply issues. 

Aziable revealed the factors contributing to the crisis, including reduced electricity imports from Ghana due to maintenance work and decreased natural gas supply from Nigeria due to infrastructure repairs.

These, the official reported, have led to a significant reduction in electricity production and import capacity in Togo, resulting in unavoidable power outages. "We are experiencing an exceptional situation, marked by an energy supply deficit that has forced us to implement an electricity rationing plan," she stated.

The minister recommended various solutions to mitigate the crisis, such as diversifying energy sources, increasing domestic output, and optimizing consumption. These solutions, she claimed, should address the crisis’ effects in the short term and move Togo towards autonomy in the long term. "We are fully mobilized and doing everything in our power to quickly and sustainably resolve this situation," Mila Aziable said.

Togo is participating in joint military exercises with the Sahel Alliance (AES) countries, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. In a complex security context marked by increasing terrorist activity in West Africa, the five countries launched a joint exercise named "Tarhanakale" near the Malian border in Tillia this week.

The initiative, announced by the Nigerien Ministry of Defense, is taking place at the Special Forces training center, funded by Germany and recently equipped by the United States. The training sessions, concluding on June 3, aim to strengthen the operational capacities of the AES armed forces, formed after Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso withdrew from ECOWAS.

For Togo, these exercises come in the context of combating the jihadist threat at its northern border. President Faure Gnassingbé recently called for a rethink of international and regional collaboration to better fight the terrorist challenge, particularly through a "new military cooperation organization" in West Africa.

The AES aims to consolidate a regional approach to terrorist threats while moving away from traditional French influence and turning towards new partnerships, including with Russia.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo officially inaugurated its new embassy in Doha, Qatar, last week. The opening ceremony was attended by Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey and Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary-General of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The opening aligns with Togo’s efforts to have new international partners and further integrate into global trade and investment dynamics. The new embassy, Robert Dussey said, will play a crucial role in deepening bilateral relations in key sectors such as trade, investment, and culture.

Al Hammadi lauded the move, highlighting Qatar's commitment to developing friendly and mutually beneficial relations. He also underscored that the embassy opening aligns with Qatar's policy of expanding its diplomatic network and diversifying strategic alliances.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Under its new national cybersecurity strategy for 2024-2028, Togo will set up a single entity to centralize efforts against cybercrime. The body will replace the current fragmented system which regroups the National Police, National Gendarmerie, and National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCy) and is supported by Cyber Defense Africa (CDA).

The current system has been highly criticized for its inefficiency. Observers pointed out laborious investigations, a lack of cooperation between services, and increasing costs without significant economies of scale. 

The new strategy indicates: "It is very hard to collect digital evidence and avoid their modification. Some digital evidence does not occur at the 'crime scene' and must be protected on the network that connects the criminal and the victim. This network can span thousands of kilometers and be linked by thousands of IT equipment located in dozens of countries. This requires close cooperation with telecommunications companies at the local and international levels, and strengthening the capacities of digital forensic laboratories, which will enable the restoration of the utility of evidence."

The announced anti-cybercrime center should overcome these challenges by consolidating resources and expertise into a single "nodal point." This should improve response to threats and crimes, cut costs and make operations more effective and strategically coherent.

One of the pillars of this restructuring is the national digital forensics laboratory. This center will focus on scientific research and the development of new methods adapted to the specificities of cybercrimes. It will also be tasked with training agents in these new techniques and raising awareness about cybersecurity issues.

The future structure will bring together professionals from various backgrounds – police officers, gendarmes, and sworn civilians – to form a robust team capable of effectively responding to digital threats, while managing advanced tools for gathering information and combating fake news.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

The Basic Social Safety Nets (BSSN) project in Togo was officially closed on May 24, 2024, after 6 years of implementation. The project, led by the National Agency for the Promotion of Grassroots Development (ANADEB), absorbed over XOF 39 billion in funding from the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and the Togolese government.

The project provided over 15 million school meals to 52,173 students across 161 public primary schools. It also delivered cash transfers to 104,240 households in nearly 975 localities and offered business development training to 13,732 women.

The World Bank's social portfolio head, Raphaela Béatrice Karlen, commended the BSSN's results underscoring how they met beneficiaries’ expectations. "While we are pleased to have supported the government in achieving and exceeding all the objectives set by the project and successfully meeting the expectations of the beneficiary communities, we recognize that the reduction of extreme poverty and vulnerability must continue, drawing lessons from the project's experience to build a strong and sustainable social protection system," she noted.

The Minister of Grassroots Development, Myriame Dossou, highlighted the BSSN's role in strengthening resilience and social cohesion within communities through support measures, training, educational discussions, and capacity building. 

Initially scheduled to end in 2021, the project was extended until 2024 due to its importance and relevance in improving the living conditions of the most vulnerable populations.

Esaïe Edoh

Under its new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Togo, the World Bank approved three loans totaling $298 million (180 billion CFA francs) on May 23, 2024. For Sandra Johnson, Minister Secretary General to the Presidency, this first loan series is a milestone for Togo. "This agreement marks a decisive turning point for Togo, and together, we are building a country where every citizen can benefit from the progress made through these innovative and transformative projects," she said. The new CFP spans from 2024 to 2029.

Nous tenons à exprimer notre déférente gratitude à tous les acteurs de la @Banquemondiale, de l'Association Internationale de Développement (IDA), et plus particulièrement à @ousmane_diagana, @SPimentaIFC , Ethiopis Tafara et Fily Sissoko, ⤵️https://t.co/Z8dEieW64H

— Sandra ABLAMBA JOHNSON (@SandraA_JOHNSON) May 24, 2024

The three loans break down into a $200 million loan, a $75 million loan, and a $23 million loan. 

The first will help bolster inclusive development through a power supply project. The latter targets more than 1.5 million people, mostly in rural areas. 

The second loan, $75 million, will help develop the public sector by improving human resources and public finance management. It will also help digitize tax revenue collection.

The third loan, $23 million, will support the Social Cohesion Project in the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions (COSO). The project aims to support refugees and host communities in Northern Togo better.

Besides these three facilities, the World Bank will provide Togo with $315 million to prevent and weather crises better. The funds will be made available through the Bank’s  Financing for Prevention and Resilience window.

Togo will therefore secure $613 million under its new CPF deal with the World Bank.

New CPF: $1.5 billion target for Togo

These funds represent the first milestones of the new Country Partnership Framework, under which the multinational institution intends to mobilize more than $1.5 billion (907 billion CFA francs) for Togo. "With this Country Partnership Framework, the World Bank is intensifying its commitment to Togo and plans to mobilize more than $1.5 billion to support reforms and investments in strategic sectors, such as agriculture, energy, connectivity, and the development of secondary cities. Youth and women will be the main beneficiaries of this partnership framework," said Fily Sissoko, World Bank Country Representative for Togo.

The new CPF targets three goals: creating quality jobs through the private sector, improving human capital, and promoting inclusive and resilient territorial development. Areas of focus are agricultural productivity, logistics, and connectivity. Several institutions, including the World Bank’s arms dedicated to concession loans and the private sector, the IDA and IFC, as well as the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, will contribute to the initiative. 

According to Sergio Pimenta, “the IFC will work closely with the World Bank and MIGA to stimulate private sector participation in several promising sectors, such as agribusiness, infrastructure, digital, manufacturing, transport, and logistics”. As for the MIGA, its Vice President, Ethiopia Tafara, said it “will provide guarantees that could boost agriculture, public-private partnerships in infrastructure, digital investments, and the energy sector”.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

The telecom regulators of Togo (ARCEP) and Madagascar (ARTEC) recently signed a cooperation agreement in Lomé. The agreement, sealed by Yaovi Galley of Togo and Frederic Rajaokarivony of Madagascar, focuses on sharing Togo's expertise in telecom regulation and digital transformation with Madagascar.

As part of the agreement, a delegation from Madagascar visited ARCEP's Center for Monitoring Service Quality and Markets Observatory to enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange.

This agreement was formalized during the 21st Seminar of the Francophone Network of Telecom Regulators (FRATEL) held in Lomé on May 21 and 22, showcasing the commitment to fostering cooperation and sharing best practices in the telecommunications sector.

 Esaïe Edoh

Togo’s latest issue on the WAMU public securities market was a success. Lomé raised CFA38.5 billion in the operation which closed on May 24. The initial target was CFA35 billion.

In detail, CFA9.8 billion was raised through Treasury Bills (T-Bills) and 28.7 billion through Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds). The former securities mature over 182 days. The latter mature over three and five years, at 6.15% and 6.40% per year, respectively.

The issue’s report indicates that 39 investors subscribed, mobilizing CFA76.8 billion.

Funds retained will plug Togo's budget for 2024. The latter stands at CFA2,179 billion in expenses and revenues. 

This year, Togo seeks CFA607 billion on the WAMU market. So far, it has raised CFA393 billion, according to the UMOA-Securities Agency.

Esaïe Edoh

In Togo, the inflation rate stood at 4.1% in April, against 4.4% in March. The figure was disclosed by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic and Demographic Studies (INSEED).

Despite the slight slump, the general price level remained largely stable nationwide, with food prices being the exception.

Month-over-month, fresh product prices jumped 8.0%, while local products saw a 2.6% increase, outpacing the 0.3% rise in imported goods. Compared to January 2024, the general price level in April edged up 2.3%.

The uptick was primarily driven by categories like "Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages" (+5.7%), "Housing, Water, Gas, Electricity, and Other Fuels" (+1.2%), and "Miscellaneous Goods and Services" (+1.1%). Transport costs saw a modest 0.4% increase from January.

Year-on-year, the general price level jumped 2.6% compared to April 2023, as indices rose across most categories tracked by INSEED, barring "Communication" and "Health".

Inflation in Togo has been volatile in recent years. It peaked at 15.83% in August 2008 and plunged to -26.77% in May 2010. The indicator is projected to average around 4.00% in 2025 and 3.60% in 2026.