Lomé, the capital of Togo, currently hosts a forum on security in the ECOWAS region. The meeting is organized by the Centre d'Études Stratégiques de l'Afrique (CESA), and backed by the U.S. Embassy in Togo. Started on February 12, the forum ends on February 15.

Several security experts of the ECOWAS are gathered at the event. They will learn how to better manage resources related to security. "We address the issue of resource management in the security sector, with a particular focus on West Africa and Togo. Participants will have the opportunity to examine the resource utilization situation in their respective countries, in the face of intersecting development and security needs. This will enable them to gain an understanding of the strategic management of these resources and the decisions that flow from it," said CESA Director, Amanda Dory.

Topics discussed at the forum include the changing security landscape in Africa; trends in resource availability and spending in the security sector; aligning security sector resources with national strategies; and strategic planning, budgeting, and resource mobilization.

"The security issues in West Africa affect us all", stressed Shannon Ritchie, Director of Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Togo. She then pointed out the importance of the forum for the Embassy, amidst the rising threats in the region. 

Last year, the USA announced $100 million in conflict prevention support for Togo and four other countries in the sub-region.

Togo will undertake big works this year, as part of the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (Waca-Resip). The team steering the project announced Friday, February 9, to the press in the framework of a radio program aimed at communicating more on the Waca-Resip.

Protecting Gbodjome-Agbodrafo coast

The first phase of the coming works covers the Gbodjome-Agbodrafo coast which spans 7 km. In this phase, 22 groins with lengths ranging between 65 to 75 meters, will be built on the axis to curb coastal erosion. Two more projects are planned under this phase. The first is a beach nourishment project with 450,000 m³ of sand. The second aims to stabilize lagoon areas by planting 10 hectares of coconut trees.

Gbaga channel to be restored 

Another project announced last week is the cleaning of the Gbaga channel. The project should help preserve biodiversity and improve movements on the water surface, subsequently bolstering the local economy. 

According to Adewole Cesar, a civil engineer working on the project, it involves removing invasive water plants and dredging the channel. Indeed, excessive exploitation of natural resources, human developments such as hydropower dams and port facilities, and climate change, pose a major threat to the region’s biodiversity and sustainability. They have sped up erosion, water contamination, and sediment accumulation on the floor of the channel. 

The Gbaga channel spans 23 km and connects Togo to Benin. In addition to dredging which will boost movement along the channel, a plan to restore the surrounding ecosystems, notably the mangroves which act as a natural barrier against erosion, is also planned. This should preserve biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities.

The flooding equation 

The last part of the recent announcements covers the Lacs and Vo prefectures, and the floods affecting these areas. 

According to the local Waca-Resip steering committee, several measures will be implemented this year to tackle the issue. For example, over 4,000 linear meters (ml) of gutters of various sizes should be built to facilitate stormwater runoff and reduce the risk of flooding. 

The WACA, the same source added, will close the year with the cleaning of existing basins and the protection of Aného's banks, extending over 2,000 ml,

In Togo, the Waca-Resip fights coastal erosion, and floods, while focusing on restoring ecosystems. The program is backed by the World Bank. In 2023, it secured additional funding from the French Development Agency (AFD).

Fiacre E.  Kakpo

Togo now chairs the Competition Advisory Committee (CAC) of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ARCC). The country was picked to steer the Committee last week after the ARCC’s 8th session in Lomé.

Togolese Talime Abe is the CAC’s new chairman. He replaces the Nigerian Boladale Adéyinka. 

Abe and his team will focus on implementing the recommendations of the ECOWAS memorandum on consumer protection. The memorandum was validated at the meeting.

The new chairman and his team will also strive to bolster competition across West Africa in line with ARCC's vision. Emphasis will be on regulating restrictive business practices, state aid, mergers, and acquisitions that do not benefit consumers.

A branch of the ECOWAS, the ARCC was set up in 2008. The Competition Authority regulates competition across the ECOWAS.

Esaïe Edoh

Togo is attending the BIOFACH 2024 fair in Nuremberg, Germany. The international trade fair dedicated to organic products begins on February 13. 

Togolese participants will showcase their organic products and hold B2B meetings. They include mainly MSMEs active in the organic value chain. 

The fair will be an opportunity to forge new partnerships.

The Togolese delegation will help promote the West African country as a producer of organic products and make it more competitive. 

According to the European Union (EU) Commission on organic imports, Togo exported 54,017 tons of organic food products in 2020, against 44,684 tons in 2019. The figures put Togo as the 13th biggest exporter in the world, and 2nd in Africa.

BioFach is the world's largest trade fair for organic food and agriculture. Nearly 2,700 exhibitors and 46,000 visitors from 130 countries attend the event.

Esaïe Edoh

Applications for the next legislative and regional elections must be submitted between February 19 and February 28. The National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) announced the deadline last week. 

Regarding eligibility criteria, the CENI noted that only Togolese by birth, regardless of sex, aged 25 and more on the date of the vote who are registered on an electoral roll are eligible for both elections. According to the CENI, candidates must be able to read, write, and speak the official language.

For aspirants to the Regional Council, "they must have been resident in Togo for at least six months " before the election date.

The Electoral Commission also recalls that deputies are elected by blocked list ballot with proportional representation. In contrast, Regional Councillors are elected by direct universal suffrage, by blocked list ballot with proportional representation.

This is the 12th time Togo is holding legislative elections, while the regional elections are a first in the country's political history.

Esaïe Edoh

The government of Togo is restructuring its National Solidarity Agency (ASN). The Council of Ministers reviewed and issued a decree to this end on February 8. This decree is the seventh issued to restructure the Agency for more efficiency. 

Among others, the new decree will enable the ASN to implement reforms that will bolster its actions in the field. It will also allow the Agency to have governance bodies that match its status as a public social body, with legal personality and financial and administrative autonomy.  

In October 2023, the Agency took a step towards its overhaul as spurred by President Faure Gnassingbé. 

The National Solidarity Agency was created in 1992. It oversees and implements Togo’s solidarity strategy and mechanisms. The latter targets the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people. The Agency, however, has been facing management and operational issues for some time now, thus the need for restructuring.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are still in talks over the deployment of the next Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The deal for the package was sealed last December. 

According to the agreement, Lomé should receive $390 million from the Bretton Woods institution over 42 months (3 and half years). Togolese authorities plan to use the funds to consolidate their achievements, in the social arena especially. 

In this regard, the latest Council of Ministers noted: "The Head of State has instructed the government to consolidate national development gains, keep up current achievements, and focus on meeting the needs of the people."

Ahead of the ECF’s deployment, Togo prepares several reforms, notably relative to taxing and budgetary discipline. A set of commitments that can potentially be in tension with a stronger social policy.

The upcoming ECF should take into account the Togolese people’s expectations following the coming elections-regional and legislative. After the polls, scheduled for April 13, the government plans new budgetary goals, aligned with the general policy statement.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Togo will carry out its next issue on the West African Economic and Monetary Securities Market (UEMOA Titres) on February 16, 2024. The Togolese Treasury will seek CFA25 billion through the operation, a simultaneous issue of fungible bonds and bills (OATs and BATs).

In detail, Lomé will seek CFA10 billion via the BATs and CFA15 billion through the OATs. The former have multiple interest rates, mature over 91 days, and have a par value of CFA1 million. The latter mature over 3 years at a rate of 6.15% per annum. Their par value is CFA10,000. 

Lomé will use the proceeds to finance its 2024 budget which stands at CFA2,179 billion.

This year, Togo plans to raise CFA607 billion on the UEMOA market. It has secured CFA52 billion so far.

Esaïe EDOH