AGP Executive Report

Agriculture: Deputies approved Togo’s agricultural orientation bill in its first reading, setting out plans to improve financing, irrigation, land security and local processing. The government must still prepare the rules and resources needed to put it into effect. Public Finances: The Cabinet’s draft 2027 budget totals CFAF 2,684.1 billion, 2.5% below the original 2026 budget. It earmarks CFAF 490 billion for investment, but questions remain over spending priorities and delivery. Territorial Governance: Six prefects were appointed, including four colonels, while the University of Datcha was cleared to begin classes in 2026–27. Political Dialogue: Opposition demands for a political reset remain unresolved after talks stalled, deepening concerns about the country’s political divide.

Cabinet Decisions: Togo appointed six prefects, including four colonels, and authorized the University of Datcha to begin classes in 2026–27 across agriculture, biomedical sciences and territorial governance. Financial Oversight: Officials and private-sector representatives met in Lomé to assess money-laundering risks tied to maritime crime, including smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal fishing. The government also began reviewing a proposal for a new agency to oversee professional certifications. 2027 Budget: The draft budget totals CFAF 2,684.1 billion, down 2.5% from the original 2026 plan, with CFAF 490 billion set aside for roadmap investments. Industry: A draft free-zone reform bill would encourage investment beyond Greater Lomé and strengthen local sourcing, training and skilled-job requirements. Political Dialogue: Opposition demands for a political reset remain unresolved as talks stall.

2027 Budget: Togo’s cabinet has approved a draft budget of CFAF 2,684.1 billion, down 2.5% from the original 2026 plan. It earmarks CFAF 490 billion for the government’s 2026–31 roadmap, including security, social services and economic transformation. The plan now faces questions over spending priorities and whether funds will deliver results. Industrial Policy: The cabinet also approved a bill to reform special economic zones, aiming to draw investment beyond Greater Lomé and strengthen local sourcing, training and skilled jobs. Opposition Politics: The CNCC has postponed its Tsévié meeting to November 8 after the mayor cited the public square’s unavailability. The opposition coalition is protesting the 2024 constitutional reform and calling for a return to the 1992 Constitution.

Opposition and Dialogue: Togo’s National Framework for Consultation for Change has postponed its Tsévié gathering from October 25 to November 8, after the mayor cited the unavailability of the public square. The coalition is protesting the 2024 constitutional reform and calling for a return to the 1992 Constitution, as broader talks remain stalled and opposition groups demand a political reset. HIV Response: Togo is nearing the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets: 94% of people living with HIV know their status, 93% of those diagnosed receive treatment, and 85% of those treated have suppressed the virus. The agency says prevention for young people and efforts to stop mother-to-child transmission still need attention. Business Policy: Major companies are pressing for fairer tax reforms and more productive investment, while the government says it wants to widen tax collection rather than raise the burden on existing taxpayers. Regional Cooperation: Ghana’s seven missing fishers have returned safely after a search involving the navies of Ghana, Togo and Benin, highlighting cross-border coordination in the Gulf of Guinea.

Political Stalemate: Togo’s opposition is demanding a radical political reset as dialogue stalls, deepening uncertainty over a way forward. Regional Cooperation: Togo’s navy helped return seven Ghanaian fishers rescued after their boat drifted into neighbouring waters, highlighting the value of cross-border maritime coordination. Airport Management: The government has handed Lomé airport’s duty-free operations to Lagardère Travel Retail after sanitation and operational failures, fuelling debate over privatisation and national control. China Ties: Togo and China have signed 13 cooperation agreements, with Beijing also agreeing to write off part of Togo’s public debt. Border Controls: Togo and Burkina Faso have agreed on joint procedures to verify livestock documents and flag suspected stolen animals.

Digital Policy: Togo’s digital minister, Cina Lawson, presented four initiatives at a Seoul summit, including cash transfers, AI skills training and tools for local languages. Political Deadlock: The opposition is demanding a political reset after talks stalled, leaving the future of dialogue uncertain without its support. Power Supply: CEET says outages in Lomé and other cities are linked to gas-pipeline maintenance and should ease by late October; power plants are using costlier liquid fuels in the meantime. Germany Ties: Togo and Germany are reviewing joint projects in agriculture, energy, health, decentralization and governance ahead of talks planned for 2027. China Partnership: Togo signed 13 agreements with China on trade, technology and debt relief, including a pledge to cancel part of its public debt. Regional Cooperation: Seven Ghanaian fishing-boat crew have been located in Togo’s waters, and Ghana says it is working with Togolese authorities to bring them home safely.

Digital Government: Minister Cina Lawson is presenting four initiatives at the Seoul AI summit, including digital skills training, local-language AI resources and the Novissi cash-transfer program. Power Supply: Togo expects outages to ease by late October as gas-pipeline maintenance ends; power plants are using costlier liquid fuels in the meantime. Political Deadlock: Opposition groups are demanding a political reset after talks stalled, leaving the path to renewed dialogue uncertain. Germany Partnership: Lomé and Berlin are reviewing joint projects in governance, energy, agriculture, health and decentralization ahead of 2027 negotiations. China Ties: Togo and China have signed 13 agreements covering trade, technology and debt relief. Regional Diplomacy: President Faure Gnassingbé is backing AU efforts to mediate in the DRC and is set to attend the Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow.

Political Deadlock: Four opposition blocs have rejected the government’s renewed consultation process, calling it a sham and demanding a political transition followed by inclusive national talks. The standoff reflects continuing disputes over the 2024 constitutional changes. Russia Ties: Togo’s head of government, Faure Gnassingbé, is due at the Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow on October 28–29, where talks are expected to build on cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture and transport. Regional Mediation: The African Union has reaffirmed its support for Gnassingbé’s mediation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, urging all sides to pursue dialogue and respect the ceasefire. China Partnership: Togo and China signed 13 cooperation agreements covering trade, technology and energy; a separate Huawei deal targets digital upgrades in energy, transport and customs. China also agreed to write off part of Togo’s public debt.

Political Deadlock: Four opposition blocs have rejected the government’s revived consultation process, calling it a sham and demanding a political transition followed by inclusive national conferences. Their refusal deepens the standoff over Togo’s 2024 constitutional reforms. African Diplomacy: The African Union urged restraint and dialogue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaffirming support for mediation led by Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé. Map Initiative: Togo’s Foreign Ministry is seeking translators to adapt the Equal Earth map into African languages, advancing a UN resolution introduced by Togo to promote more accurate maps in education and media. China Ties: Togo and China signed 13 cooperation agreements during Gnassingbé’s visit, including a Huawei deal focused on energy, transport and customs technology; Beijing also agreed to write off part of Togo’s public debt.

Regional Cooperation: ECOWAS officials met Togo’s environment minister to discuss climate resilience, coastal erosion and sustainable resource management, linking environmental protection to regional integration. Coastal Protection: Togo has accepted 26 shoreline defenses built under a World Bank-backed project. The wider program is 70% complete and is due to close in June 2027. China Partnership: During Faure Gnassingbé’s October visit to China, Togo signed 13 agreements covering trade, technology and digital development, including a soybean-export protocol. China also agreed to write off part of Togo’s public debt. A separate Huawei deal targets upgrades to energy, transport and customs systems, with technology transfer and local skills development. Investment: ECOWAS reports Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about CFAF 619 billion.

China Partnership: Faure Gnassingbé’s October visit to China produced 13 cooperation agreements, including a soybean export protocol and a pledge to write off an unspecified part of Togo’s debt. Togo also signed a Huawei deal covering energy, transport and customs technology, with a focus on transferring skills locally. Regional Diplomacy: China says President Xi’s four principles for resolving African conflicts—African leadership, fairness, peace and tackling root causes—offer guidance for issues including the Horn of Africa. Investment: An ECOWAS report says Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million. Coastal Protection: Togo has accepted 26 coastal defenses, part of a CFAF 33.48 billion project. The wider WACA program is 70% complete and is scheduled to close in June 2027.

Regional Diplomacy: Togo joined Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and ECOWAS in their first official ministerial talks since the Sahel states left the bloc. Both sides agreed to set up working groups to develop a framework for cooperation, while the Alliance of Sahel States stressed it was seeking new relations, not a return to ECOWAS. China Ties: During Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to Beijing, Togo and China signed 13 agreements on trade, technology and other fields. China also agreed to cancel an unspecified portion of Togo’s debt and pledged free robotics and 6G training for top Togolese students. Investment: ECOWAS’s 2025 regional report says Togo approved 47 investment projects worth about $619 million. National Peace: Togo’s Catholic bishops called for a rosary novena for peace and security from October 23 to 31, and elected Bishop Jacques Danka Longa as conference president.

National Peace: Togo’s Catholic bishops called for a rosary novena from October 23 to 31, praying for peace and security and urging young people to support justice and civic life. Regional Diplomacy: ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States held their first official ministerial talks since the three Sahel countries left the bloc, agreeing to form working groups toward a cooperation framework; the AES says the discussions are about new relations, not rejoining. China Ties: Faure Gnassingbé’s Beijing visit produced 13 agreements, including a soybean export protocol and pledges of free robotics and 6G training for Togolese students. China also agreed to cancel an unspecified portion of Togo’s debt. Lomé reaffirmed Beijing’s positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

China Deal: Togo and China signed 13 agreements during Faure Gnassingbé’s October visit, covering trade, customs, technology and development. Beijing also agreed to cancel part of Togo’s public debt, though it has not disclosed the amount; Togo owed China about $331 million at the end of 2024. Exports and Skills: A new protocol sets requirements for Togolese soybeans to enter China, while Chinese organizations pledged free robotics and 6G training for top Togolese students. Diplomatic Alignment: A joint statement reaffirmed Togo’s support for Beijing’s positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Xi Jinping also presented principles for resolving African conflicts during talks with Gnassingbé, stressing African leadership, peace and tackling root causes. Regional Justice: Togolese judge Yaouza Ouro-Sama is among five newly sworn-in judges of the ECOWAS Court, which elected Liberia’s Charlyne Brumskine president and Benin’s Désiré Henri Aïhou vice-president.

Russia-Togo ties: A photo exhibition on Russia–Africa summits opened in Lomé on 16 October, ahead of a Moscow summit later this month, highlighting growing diplomatic outreach. China partnership: Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to Beijing produced a soybean-export protocol and pledges of free robotics and 6G training for Togolese students. A joint statement also deepened ties and backed China’s positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong and other disputes. Regional justice: Togo’s Justice Yaouza Ouro-Sama is among five new ECOWAS Court judges; Liberia’s Charlyne Brumskine and Benin’s Désiré Aïhou were elected president and vice-president. Land administration: Togo named notary Méméssilé Gnazo to lead its new National Land and Property Agency, tasked with managing titles, land records and disputes.

China Ties: Faure Gnassingbé’s visit to Beijing brought a soybean-export protocol and free robotics and 6G training pledges for Togolese students. The two countries also elevated ties to a “community with a shared future,” with Togo reaffirming support for Beijing’s positions on Taiwan and other disputed issues. Land Governance: Togo has named notary Méméssilé Gnazo to lead its National Land and Property Agency, tasked with managing land records, issuing titles and helping prevent disputes. Regional Justice: Liberia’s Charlyne Brumskine and Benin’s Désiré Henri Aïhou were elected president and vice-president of the ECOWAS Court; Togolese judge Yaouza Ouro-Sama is among its five members. Energy Diplomacy: Russia says its energy commission with Togo has identified projects for implementation, with progress set for discussion at an Africa forum later this month.